England all-rounder Moeen Ali has opened up about how IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and its captain MS Dhoni made a positive impact in his international career. Ali, who is one of the most prized possessions in the Chennai outfit, has revealed that he learned a lot about batting while speaking to the legendary Indian stumper.
During his recent interview with Cricbuzz, the 35-year-old credited Dhoni for helping him with ‘captaincy’ and his ‘cricket’ overall.
“I spent some time with MS and spoke a lot. I ask questions about captaincy and he answers. It is very open like that. As a captain, I learned a lot from him. I have also learned a lot from his batting. You learn a lot in CSK,” he said.
The Birmingham-born also expressed his excitement for IPL 2023, given the auction CSK had and especially performing infront of the Chepauk crowd, continuing:
“I don’t know about other teams but CSK is a family franchise. I am looking forward to this season. They had a very good auction. I am looking forward to playing with the new players and the biggest thing is I am looking forward to the Chepauk and its crowd.”
Ali further mentioned that CSK’s backing made a big difference in his international career. He added: “When I was playing for England and batting at 7 (at 8 in Test matches), CSK sent me at No 3. The franchise gave me the responsibility and backing. The big thing is them signing me and then retaining me. The backing you get from CSK and the way the franchise is run is absolutely amazing. Everyone says it is the best franchise.”
Ali is currently involved in the International League T20, plying his trade for Sharjah Warriors.
