The Gujarat Titans (GT) have been a dominant force throughout the current season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The defending champions have won 10 out of their 14 league matches, securing the top spot on the points table.
In the ongoing Qualifier 1 of IPL 2023, the Titans are facing Chennai Super Kings (CSK), a team that has won the IPL title four times. The highly anticipated contest is taking place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Meanwhile, ahead of this crucial game, GT captain Hardik Pandya had expressed his admiration for his counterpart, CSK skipper MS Dhoni. Pandya conveyed that it takes a lot to hate Dhoni and that he himself will always be a fan of the legendary cricketer.
In a video shared by GT on Twitter, Pandya stated, “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.”
Pandya acknowledged the tremendous success of CSK under Dhoni’s leadership, winning the IPL title four times. Despite a challenging campaign last year, the Super Kings made a strong comeback this season, finishing the league stage with 17 points from 14 games.
Reflecting on his own experience, Hardik mentioned that he has learned a lot from Dhoni by watching him play on the field.
“A lot of people think Mahi is serious and all that. For me, I crack jokes, and I don’t see him as Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Obviously, I’ve learned a lot of things from him, a lot of positive things, which I’ve learned from him just while watching, not even much talking,” the talented all-rounder shared.
To Hardik, Dhoni is like a dear friend and brother with whom he can relax and have fun. “For me, he’s just my dear friend, dear brother, who I do pranks, who I chill,” Pandya added, highlighting their close bond.
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
GT registered 10 wins in 14 games in the league stage this season. Pandya scored 289 runs and picked 3 wickets in 13 matches.
