The 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to start in just over a month’s time. The schedule for the upcoming season was announced last week. The tournament will start on March 31, and in the opening match, the defending champion Gujarat Titans will be up against MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
This year’s edition of the IPL is going to be a special one in many ways, as for the first time since the 2019 season, the tournament will be played in its original home-and-away format. The four-time champions CSK, who finished second-last in 2022, will hope to make a memorable comeback this year and bid farewell to MS Dhoni, who will almost certainly play his final IPL this time.
The 41-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman who has led CSK for 15 years has already started his preparations, and in his swansong tournament, he would like to make a big impact with the bat as well.
Dhoni had stepped down from leadership before the start of the IPL last year and passed on the baton to star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. But he failed to inspire the team to big wins, and after eight games, he stepped down from his role. After relinquishing leadership duties, Jadeja didn’t play much and was ruled out due to an injury. The 34-year-old suffered another injury during the Asia Cup last year, which kept him out of action for more than five months. But he has made a stunning comeback to international cricket in the ongoing Test series against Australia and has so far picked up a total of 17 wickets in two matches, apart from making 96 runs in two innings.
Jadeja’s return to form is a big boost for CSK, and if he continues to perform in the same manner, then it will help the Chennai-based side do well in the cash-rich league. Impressed by Jadeja’s impressive comeback, former India and CSK batter Suresh Raina has said that the all-rounder will prove to be a great support for MS Dhoni in the IPL 2023.
“Sir Jadeja has done really well with both bat and ball of late, and he will prove to be a great support to Dhoni. He has gone through a great rehab, as he is looking really strong and physically fit. When he goes there (Chepauk), fans will cheer for him as well as for Dhoni,” Raina told Sportskeeda.
The four-time IPL winner was also full of praise for Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been the team’s best batter in the last couple of seasons. “Ruturaj will play his first game at the Chepauk. He is a great player and will definitely do well. MS Dhoni will also be keen to go back to Chepauk and interact with all the ‘Whistle Podu’ and ‘Yellove’ fans. It will be very exciting, and I hope we will start with a win there,” Raina added.
