MS Dhoni said that no one from corporate side influences CSK’s cricketing calls, reveals Gautam Gambhir

05/29/2018

Former Delhi Daredevils skipper Gautam Gambhir has revealed that CSK skipper MS Dhoni told him that no one from outside the team influences any of the team’s decisions during the IPL. Gambhir also opined that the reason the Delhi Daredevils failed to win was the lack of match-winning bowlers.

Gambhir had a less than memorable return to his hometown of Delhi as his franchise Delhi Daredevils finished last in this year’s IPL under his leadership. Gambhir stepped down as skipper and was ousted from the starting XI as youngster Shreyas Iyer took charge of the team. But the left-handed batsman shed light on the influence that team owners and CEOs have in running the franchises in the cash-rich league in his column for Hindustan Times. Gambhir further added that the only CSK’s MS Dhoni is free of any pressure or influence from corporate entities in the running of the Chennai-based franchise.

“A lot goes into the world of franchisee cricket. It is an expensive business – franchise fees, salaries of players and support staff, travel, stay etc. There is one more head that no balance sheet shows: EGO. Most owners are successful outside the business of IPL. Just like cricketers, they hate to lose. But while cricketers can sportingly accept defeat against a better team, team owners are ruthless as they measure everything against Return on Investment (ROI).

“Given the circumstances, if the owners interfere in on-field matter, can you really blame them? But Chennai Super Kings are different. MS Dhoni is their de-facto cricketing boss. I have heard from Dhoni that no one from corporate side influences any cricketing calls. You can argue that it cuts both ways that since CSK have played record seven finals there is every reason for Dhoni to be given a free hand,” he wrote.

Gambhir was heavily criticised for the dismal performance of the Delhi-based franchise in the initial stages of the IPL but he cleared the air surrounding that as well in his column today.

“A lot of people asked me why I didn’t play after stepping down from captaincy. My reply is simple: I would have played had I been picked. A lot of people also ask me where did we go wrong. It is simple again: injuries to key players like Rabada and Morris, inability to build the right team combination, certain players not clicking, the team not playing important moments well and also the inability to handle pressure are all reasons for our failure. I have always believed it is bowlers who win you games whatever be the format. I think we lacked there,” he wrote.

MS Dhoni said that no one from corporate side influences CSK’s cricketing calls, reveals Gautam Gambhir

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