Cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar feels team India's star wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni will do great in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), scheduled to take place in United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 19. Calling him a champion cricketer, Manjrekar said there will be no dip in the form of a veteran cricketer like Dhoni.
The 39-year old Mahi, who hasn't played a single match for the Indian cricket team since their exit from 2019 WC semis against New Zealand, will lead Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2020.
Speaking on Star Sports' show Cricket Connected, Manjrekar said: "I think he is going to be very good and one of the reasons that he is so successful and so consistent in the IPL as a batsman as opposed to international is that he knows that there are about four to five bowlers to handle.
"And there are some good ones and there are some not so good ones in the IPL. In international, you have got five quality bowlers, so he's so good at picking out those guys and going after them.
"And with people like (Sachin) Tendulkar, Dhoni, these are champion cricketers. Once they are on the public stage, you will never see Dhoni ever on a public stage, like a cricket field, looking slightly unfit or unable to sprint or run."
Manjrekar said he caught up with Dhoni during Kohli's wedding.
"During Virat Kohli's wedding, I had a little corner time with him and he said that as long as I am beating the fastest sprinter in the team, I am going to consider myself fit enough to be playing international cricket or playing high-level cricket.
"So, as a batter, with M.S. Dhoni in the IPL, I don't see much difference. In fact, the conditions that we have, I keep saying, is just perfect for Dhoni, where it's going to be about the mind and not just power hitting."
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