MUMBAI: India cricketer Suresh Raina has revealed that MS Dhoni was preparing in a different way for this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) which currently stands indefinitely postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Dhoni’s CSK teammate Raina said he wishes that the IPL gets underway soon so that people can see how prepared the former India captain is for the competitive cricket.
”The first few days he took it lightly and just focused on going to the gym but he was playing the shots beautifully and his fitness level was great and he was not getting tired,” Raina said on Star Sports’ Cricket Connected show.
”His preparations were different this time, I have played with him over the years with the national side and IPL getting ready but it was different this time, so I just hope the matches can start quickly then everyone can see how well prepared he is and see what I saw myself LIVE in the two months of camp that we had,” he added.
The 2020 IPL is supposed to see return of Dhoni to cricketing action as the wicket-keeper is on a break since playing in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup where India lost to New Zealand.
MS Dhoni has not played competitive cricket and speculations are rife over his international future and the 2020 IPL is supposed to see return of wicket-keeper batsman to cricketing action.
The left handed batsman, who has been an integral member of Chennai Super Kings over the years, said MS Dhoni did not get tired even after battling for long hours at the CSK training camp.
”The best thing was, (Ambati) Rayudu, myself, Mahi bhai and Murali (Vijay) were batting in a group and Mahi bhai bats for long hours when he is in Chennai for about 2?4 hours,” he said.
”But this time he was just not getting tired of batting. He was doing his gym in the morning, followed by batting for three hours in the evening,” he added.
The IPL, which is indefinitely postponed, can be held in the September-October window if the scheduled T20 World Cup in Australia doesn’t take place.
(AGENCIES)
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