The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had finished 9th in the points table in IPL 2022. It seems like the points table from last season had been inverted in IPL 2023 as MS Dhoni’s team finished second in the points table, behind only the defending champions Gujarat Titans.

And, to no one’s surprise, and simply more astonishment, it is MS Dhoni‘s magic as a captain on the field and a leader off it that has turned around CSK’s fortunes so much that now, heading into the playoffs, they are only 2 wins away from their 5th IPL title, which will put them neck-to-neck with Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians; and not to forget, CSK have played two fewer seasons than MI.

It is MS Dhoni’s world-famous, hailed-by-all, backing-the-player-to-the-hilt credo that has served his team right in IPL 2023.

While many doubted them, MS Dhoni backed these 3 players who turned the tide for CSK in IPL 2023:

Ajinkya Rahane

Many CSK fans were skeptical about CSK buying Ajinkya Rahane in the IPL 2023 auction. For, Rahane is way past his prime years had been on the bench over the last couple of seasons. However, once he got the chance in IPL 2023, Rahane batted with incredible freedom and took the tournament by storm.

In 10 knocks, Rahane has scored 299 runs, more importantly, at an attacking strike rate of 169. He has struck at 208 in the powerplay, amongst the best this season.

Shivam Dube

When with RCB, Shivam Dube didn’t have a clear role; he was mostly used as a death overs finisher or slogger. But when he joined CSK, Dube’s role, and abilities were identified correctly by MS Dhoni and management and they trused him as a middle-overs spin-basher.

That has done wonders for Shivam Dube: in 13 innings, Dube has cracked 386 runs at a strike rate of 158. Against spinners, Dube has smoked 190 runs at a terrific strike rate of 174, which is even more impressive because he’s played half of the league phase at the Chepauk.

Tushar Deshpande

After a poor start in the couple of initial matches, Tushar Deshpande was trolled by even his own CSK fans. In most other franchises, Deshpande would have been dropped from the side. But MS Dhoni backed the youngster and CSK reaped rewards of that backing as Deshpande is now in the running for Purple Cap having taken 20 wickets in 14 games.