Hardik Pandya Made A Heartfelt Statement About MS Dhoni Ahead Of Qualifier 1: The stage is all set for the Qualifier 1 round of the ongoing 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League where the 4-times IPL champs Chennai Super Kings will take on defending champions Gujarat Titans at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
It is a big day for Hardik Pandya, who will be standing against his idol MS Dhoni in the crucial game tonight. Ahead of the big game, Hardik expressed his love and admiration for his former captain.
He stated that one needs to be a ‘proper devil’ to hate the talismanic Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is probably playing his last IPL season this time. Hardik also debunked the myth that Dhoni, who is hailed as one of the most successful captains around the world, was a serious man.
In a video shared by Gujarat Titans via their official Twitter handle, Hardik can be seen saying:
“I’ll always be a Mahendra Singh Dhoni fan and for so many fans out there and so many cricket lovers. You need to be a proper devil to hate Mahendra Singh Dhoni,”
Hardik Pandya Learned A Lot From MS Dhoni
Last year, Chennai Super Kings endured their worst possible season. Dhoni had promised his fans that he will make a stronger return this year and he is a man of his word. He has fulfilled his promise. CSK has been one of the most consistent performers in the ongoing season, with the likes of Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Ajinkya Rahane coming together to give solid performances.
Further, Pandya said that he has learned a lot from Dhoni, not by picking his brains but simply by watching him in action. He said:
“A lot of people think Mahi is serious and all that. For me, I crack jokes and I don’t see him as a Mahendra Singh Dhoni.”
“Obviously, I’ve learnt a lot of things from him, a lot of positive things, which I’ve learnt from him just while watching, not even much talking,”
The star all-rounder also expressed that Dhoni is like a brother to him, who he could chill with. He said:
“For me, he’s just my dear friend, dear brother, who I do pranks, who I chill.”
Sharing the video, Gujarat Titans also posted a message terming Dhoni a “Captain. Leader. Legend.@msdhoni is an emotion.”
Watch the video:
Captain. Leader. Legend.@msdhoni is an emotion 💙 Here’s a special tribute from @hardikpandya7 to the one and only Thala ahead of a special matchday in Chennai! 🤝#GTvCSK | #PhariAavaDe | #TATAIPL Playoffs 2023 pic.twitter.com/xkrJETARbJ
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) May 23, 2023
