Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya stated that one must be a “proper devil” to harbour grudges towards the talismanic Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who might be taking part in his final IPL season. As the Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans line as much as play Qualifier 1 on the MA Chidambaram Stadium right here on Tuesday, Pandya additionally debunked the parable that Dhoni, some of the profitable India captains, was a severe individual.

“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,” stated Pandya in a video posted by Gujarat Titans on social media.

The turnaround Dhoni has effected from final season has as soon as once more introduced the highlight on him as CSK intention to bag their fifth IPL title after ending second-last in 2022.

While final 12 months the captaincy conundrum took a toll on the facet, CSK have been in elegant type with the likes of Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane coming collectively to as soon as once more give the staff the look of a title-winning unit.

Pandya stated he had learnt a whole lot of cricketing nuances from Dhoni, not by choosing his brains however just by watching him in motion.

“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 whole lot of issues from him, a whole lot of optimistic issues, which I’ve learnt from him simply whereas watching, not even a lot speaking,” said Pandya, who would be aiming to retain the IPL title the team won last year by defeating Rajasthan Royals.

The country’s top all-rounder also said that for him MSD was like a brother who he could chill around with.

“For me, he is simply my pricey pal, pricey brother, who I do pranks, who I chill.” Gujarat Titans also posted a message terming Dhoni a “Captain. Leader. Legend.@msdhoni is an emotion.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)