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Why the Dhoni phenomenon gets bigger and better

By LAXMI NEGI
May 10, 2019

IMAGE: Mahendra Singh Dhoni has defied all odds with a brilliant outing in IPL 2019. Photographs: BCCI

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose Chennai Super Kings takes the field on Friday night for Qualifier 2 against Delhi Capitals, has entertained spectators at IPL 2019 with some brilliant batting and glove-work behind the stumps.

Scenes from Dhoni's IPL 2019 campaign:

Known for his humility, Dhoni, despite being disturbed by the result of the game against the Mumbai Indians early in Season 12, took time off to meet an elderly lady who had come to watch the match at the Wankhede stadium.

She carried a poster, saying 'I am here only for Dhoni'.

'Captain Cool' interacted with the senior citizen, clicked pictures with her and gifted her an autographed CSK jersey.

The video of Dhoni making his way down the stairs from the team's dressing room and meeting with the lady quickly went viral on social media.

Dhoni's calm nature took an unlikely route during the match against the Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.

For the first time he rushed into the field of play to confront umpire Ulhas Gandhe for not signalling a 'no-ball'.

He was seen angrily gesturing at Gandhe before the other umpire, Chris Gaffaney, asked him to leave.

Needless to say, he was fined 50 percent of his match fee for his unlikely meltdown.

The Chennai Super Kings skipper will turn 38 on July 7, but watching him take singles with almost 'Boltian' speed few will doubt the man's fitness.

He rarely shows pain, which is why spectators were startled when a physio entered the field to attend to his injury during his match-winning 58 against the Royals in Jaipur.

The CSK physio turned up again at the Eden Gardens when Dhoni scored a brisk 16 and needed medical attention.

Social media went berserk after Dhoni posted an Instapic showing wife Sakshi Rawat and him taking a nap at Chennai airport while waiting for a flight.

Sakshi and MS used a backpack as a makeshift pillow.

'After getting used to IPL timing, this is what happens if you have a morning flights,' the legend posted.

Shane Watson, the CSK opener, earlier revealed, 'We don't see MS too much in and around lunch and breakfast. He loves his sleep.'

No feature about Dhoni can be complete without mention of his adorable daughter, Ziva.

CSK's super cute cheerleader was at her best when her dad walked out to bat against the Delhi Capitals at the Feroz Shah Kotla in a league game.

Ziva could be heard shouting 'Come on Papa!'.

She and her mother are always in the stands, cheering the great man on to scale new peaks of cricketing glory.

LAXMI NEGI / Rediff.com

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