Youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal, the opening batsman for Rajasthan Royals, recently spoke about his admiration for Chennai Super Kings’ skipper MS Dhoni, ahead of their match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. He also pointed out that even players and supporters of the opposing team hold the legendary stumper-batsman in high regard.
I can understand the fans’ feelings towards Dhoni. He is liked by even the opposing team and their supporters. I also enjoy Dhoni’s game as I am also a big fan of his. However, we must take that in our stride and concentrate on our performance. In the last match, we got overwhelming support from the Jaipur crowd, and I am hoping they would continue to cheer us despite Dhoni’s presence on the ground,” the 21-year-old said in the pre-match presentation, as quoted by Sportskeeda.
It’s no surprise that Dhoni has received resounding support from fans all over India in the ongoing 16th edition of the Indian Premier League. In his last match at the Eden Gardens, the 41-year-old was greeted by a sea of yellow, as fans turned up in large numbers to support him. While he acknowledged the love and affection he has received from fans, Dhoni also stated that the fans may have turned up to bid him farewell, as he has been contemplating retirement from the game.
Despite Dhoni’s presence and popularity, Yashasvi Jaiswal is hopeful that the home crowd in Jaipur will turn up to cheer for the Rajasthan Royals.
The young batsman emphasized the importance of home support and expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to perform well and win the match.
Rajasthan Royals have had a mixed run in the IPL so far, winning three out of their first five matches. However, two consecutive losses have seen them slip to the third position on the IPL Points Table. Jaiswal acknowledged the team’s recent slump in form but remained optimistic about their chances of getting back to winning ways and regaining the top spot in the league. With talented players like Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Chris Morris, and Jofra Archer in their ranks, the Rajasthan Royals have the potential to be a formidable force in the tournament. 
“We lost the last two matches quite closely, but it’s part and parcel of the game. We should forget those losses as quickly as possible and concentrate on our process. The team is determined to bounce back and regain the top position in the points tally. It happens in cricket, and sometimes you lose games that were under our control,” the opener added.
