Shardul excited to reunite with Dhoni at CSK

Thakur said he is excited to be playing for the Chennai franchisee this year and he is looking forward to working with MS Dhoni, who was also his captain last season when he played for Rising Supergiant Pune. 

“I believe I had a good season with Rising Pune Supergiant in the last IPL. Dhoni standing behind the stumps and advising us from time to time with all his experience was a big boost for me personally,” added the 26-year-old, who has impressed for India in the shorter formats of the game. 

“The situation does not change this year, too, as he will be behind the stumps again while we represent CSK and I am really looking forward to more valuable advice from him and to give some good match-winning performances,” continued the Palghar-born Mumbai player, who is known to swing the ball both ways. The Dhoni-led Lions won the IPL twice, finished runners-up on four occasions and qualified to the Playoffs in all eight seasons between 2008 and 2015 to emerge as one of the most decorated franchises in the competition. “I am really proud to have been picked up by CSK. I think it is an honour to represent a public favourite franchise. 

There are several big names in the side and it’s a dream come true to compete and share the dressing room with these cricketing greats,” Thakur further stated. “It is something which I have always thought about since childhood and now that I can experience it in real life, I feel it is a big positive for me,” he concluded. 

The 11th edition of the IPL kicks off on April 7 with CSK taking on defending champions Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. “Shardul is one of the most improved Indian medium-pacers in the past two seasons,” said KS Viswanathan, CEO, Chennai Super Kings. “He is equally adept with the new ball and bowling in the death overs and was very impressive in the last IPL.”