CHENNAI: The image of a tearful MS Dhoni holding Ravindra Jadeja aloft after a magical Monday night was trending on Tuesday. It seemed a beautiful end to CSK’s campaign, and Dhoni even added a fitting epilogue, calling Jadeja, along with the retiring Ambati Rayudu, up on stage to receive the IPL trophy.
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Dhoni and Jadeja have been part of many a battle together, including a memorable partnership in the 2019 ODI World Cup semifinal against New Zealand that ended in tears for the senior pro. Despite the immense professional respect for each other, their chemistry hasn’t always been a smooth one. Last year, after a disastrous campaign when he was made captain for a while only to be removed midway, Jadeja left the CSK camp in a huff.
Consequently, he deleted all CSK-related posts from his social media accounts. There was a time when all communication between the franchise and the player had broken down. One understands Jadeja wanted to leave the franchise and there were offers for like-for-like swap deals from other teams.
But it was Dhoni who stepped in and said that there was no way Jadeja could be allowed to leave CSK. He convinced the left-hander to stay back. This season, however, the Saurashtra allrounder was hardly getting a chance to show his batting calibre.
There were again suggestions, which one understands were true, of a misunderstanding between the two when Dhoni had a strong word in public with Jadeja when he didn’t bowl too well against Delhi Capitals in New Delhi. It was followed by a cryptic tweet, but with the business end of the IPL coming up, the flames were doused.
Once the playoffs started, all that mattered was the performance. On Monday, it was the Dhoni-Jadeja duo that removed the in-form Shubman Gill. And then, in dramatic fashion, Jadeja’s last-over heroics with the bat won the game for CSK.
“I want to dedicate this win to our one and only MS Dhoni,” a beaming Jadeja said after the match. It was heartfelt, because Jadeja knows that even if Dhoni is occasionally stern with him, the captain has tremendous amount of confidence in him as well. Dhoni backed Jadeja during his first turbulent years in CSK and explored his ability to become a match-winning Test-match bowler.
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Though Ruturaj Gaikwad has been earmarked as a future CSK captain, one won’t be surprised if Jadeja is given a second go as captain next season, just as a mark of respect for what he did this time around. It may also help in facilitating a transition as Ruturaj gains experience.
“Jadeja had to come back from some difficult captaincy and injury issues to reintegrate into the CSK team. MS has been extremely supportive and proactive in getting him up there. And today he repaid his faith,” coach Stephen Fleming said, explaining the Dhoni-Jadeja chemistry that did wonders for CSK.
The way team CSK functions, it’s not going to break down any time soon and fans can expect for many such magical nights from the allrounder in the days to come.
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