IPL 2019 | MS Dhoni has been consistent with his impressive game strategies, says Suresh Raina

MS Dhoni has been one of the most successful captains in the game’s history and as far as the IPL goes, his success rate is second to none. He has led Chennai Super Kings with immense precision and while the team secured three titles in the process, they have also reached seven finals which points to the former Indian skipper’s astuteness. Suresh Raina, Dhoni’s constant companion since the first season of the league, has praised the CSK skipper’s consistent strategies as a reason for their success.

"Every captain is unique and they all bring their interesting set of skills to the game. Having said that, Dhoni has been consistent with his impressive game strategies and that has converted to multiple wins over the years," Raina said in the post-match press conference, reported PTI.

He is called as “Mr. IPL” for a reason and when he became the first player to score more than 5,000 runs to his name, his legacy in the history of the tournament was well and truly established. His innings yesterday was befitting to the title given to him as the left-hander scored a quickfire 30 to make sure that the middle-order didn’t have to break a lot of sweat in the game. On being asked about the same, Raina stated that he was a team man and never played for personal milestones.

"We are high on determination right now. We have a big responsibility to shoulder this season and that thought alone has guided our practice sessions thus far. It's been almost a decade for me with CSK and what I bring to the team is patience and the ability to keep it together during pressure situations," he said.

"I have always focussed on having my head in the game. The centuries, dismissals, trophies - they're bonus points really. For me, what really counts is if I have been able to assist my team in winning a match. This attitude has helped me get where I am today. To me, it doesn't matter what position I'm batting in. It's always about if I am able to contribute significantly to my team's success - whether it's runs, catches, or fielding," the Uttar Pradesh cricketer added.

The team was branded as a “Dad’s army” after the franchise bid for most players of age above 30, but the MS Dhoni-led team stunned everyone by winning the title for the third time. It was down to a team culture that they have collectively managed to put up and Raina said it was the main reason for the team not being bogged down under pressure situations.

"It's the perfect side of 30, I'd say. Our fielding has been on-point and we've proved it time and again. I think, we know each other's strengths and weaknesses pretty well and share a healthy team culture, which keeps the positivity going. This helps us keep our focus on the game. Also, the management team is fantastic; they are like family to us," he said.

"No secrets really. We knew we had to prove ourselves, earn back the love we've been showered with all these years. And so, the focus was on bettering our game, not to concentrate on the tabloid news and give every moment on the field, our best shot," the southpaw concluded.