CSK creates an atmosphere that gives players the best chance to succeed: Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa. (Photo Source: Twitter/Robin Uthappa)

Anil Kumble on MS Dhoni’s influence on his teammates: When you walk into a team that is the champion, that has been there and done that, it’s a very different feeling. That’s the nature of what you get when you walk into the Chennai dressing room under MS Dhoni. That, to me, is the difference for a Shivam Dube or Ajinkya Rahane. We always knew about the quality of the player, but it was a shift in mindset that Ajinkya felt at CSK. Yes, there was role clarity, but he felt that here he had the freedom to smash everything. Let’s not forget that Ajinkya was also at a stage in his career where he had to make a statement. CSK have always picked experienced players because they know what you’re going to get from them.

Robin Uthappa on the culture that helps players excel at CSK: It’s the compound effect. The way the players are treated, they feel secure and everyone performs. Guys like Suresh Raina have gone there and created magic consistently. Then, you have players like Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis who succeeded there. There was Murali Vijay who came out and played to his potential, we all knew he could play at that level. Ashwin as well. You see players like this come through the ranks and are like, ‘Oh, there’s something about this team that brings success’. Every time a youngster comes to this team, they come in with curiosity. CSK creates an atmosphere that gives the athlete the best chance to be successful. So, it’s a compounding effect over a period of time.

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Eoin Morgan on whether overseas players like being captained by Dhoni at CSK: They absolutely love it, to be honest. They talk about the same characteristics. When you’re talking about being led brilliantly, you always say, ‘Will the team follow him?’ When it’s MS Dhoni, you never question that. He leaves an indelible mark on every player. He instils the belief that they have the ability to go out and play with the pride that’s associated with CSK, and lets them know that everybody is backing them. Ben Stokes, who has an incredible amount of self-belief, loved playing under MS Dhoni. He did it at Pune for a couple of years and obviously shared the dressing room with him last year. They absolutely love wearing that yellow shirt.”

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