CSK openers Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad want MS Dhoni to play for at least five more years. (PTI) Chennai Super Kings (CSK) openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway has revealed that MS Dhoni’s knee is okay and they would love their captain to play for at least five more years in the yellow.
“He has played so much cricket and is highly respected. If the person of that magnitude has your backing and you know he believes in you it gives you so much confidence as a player,” Conway told his opening partner Gaikwad in a video posted by IPL.
“We are very lucky to have Mahi bhai in the group. Hopefully, this is not his last season. He has got at least five years in him. His knee is all good,” he added.
Ruturaj, who is playing his fourth season under the captaincy of MS Dhoni echoed his opening partner’s views. He said: “To be honest. I am just grateful to be able to play fifty games under him.
The @msdhoni impact ☺️
Emotions on playing 14 'home' games in league stage and the Chennai connect 💛
Marching into the #TATAIPL 2023 Playoffs 👌
Partnership special, ft. #CSK's @Ruutu1331 & Devon Conway 👍 – By @ameyatilak
Full Video 🔽 #DCvCSKhttps://t.co/Css2iKKR06 pic.twitter.com/sdmICNb6Z3
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 21, 2023
“If I look back at the journey, right from the first game, until now he has been the same. There’s no difference. He is humble, he is open for talks. To have that confidence of him behind me I know that whatever he is saying and I can go and ask anything I want. It is exactly what a youngster needs in the dressing room.”
The duo has played a massive role in CSK’s qualifying for play-offs this season. Conway has smashed 585 runs in 13 innings, inclduing six fifties, while Gaikwad has amassed 504 runs in as many outings.
Conway explained the reasons behind their successful opening combination.
Location: Delhi 📍
Emotion: MS Dhoni 😊
Special Saturday Moments 💛
This is heartwarming! ☺️#TATAIPL | #DCvCSK | @ChennaiIPL | @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/s217v3HZ4k
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 21, 2023
“I think a couple of things that help us in our partnership. One is the communication. I like to talk a lot in the middle. Then I think the left-right combination certainly helps us in the partnership. If I am stalling at one end I know that you ar going to be smashing at the other and vice versa.
“These are the little things that I love about our batting and obviously you are very clam and relaxed in the middle,” said Conway.
After playing their last league match at the Cheapuk, the CSK team did a farewell walk but they will play their qualifier match against the defending champions Gujarat Titans at the same venue in a few days time.
“It’s a tradition. We always do the farewell walk after the last game of the league.
“I was always telling myself that we are coming back here. We are going to play in the playoffs.
“Every game in this season has been a home game for us but playing at Chepauk where there is almost 99% CSK fans is always great,” he said.
Get latest updates on IPL 2025 from IPL Points Table to Teams, Schedule, Most Runs and Most Wickets along with live cricket score updates for all matches. Also get Sports news and more cricket updates.
4 min read
