Dhoni’s team meetings weren’t more than two minutes long: Parthiv Patel

Parthiv is certain nothing has changed about Dhoni and his captaincy in all these years.

Parthiv Patel, who was part of the Chennai Super Kings unit during the first edition of the IPL recalled how MD Dhoni’s team meetings never lasted more than a couple of minutes. Parthiv scored 302 runs from 13 matches as CSK made it to the final, which was to be played against Rajasthan Royals, and even though the wicketkeeper batsman went on to play for other teams, he is certain nothing has changed about Dhoni and his captaincy in all these years.

“Team meetings used to last for 2 minutes. In the 2008 final, the CSK team meeting led by Dhoni lasted for 2 minutes and I am sure it lasted for 2 minutes in 2019 also. Dhoni was always clear in what he wanted from his players,” Parthiv said during the watch-along of the first ever IPL final on Star Sports.

“Dhoni was always clear about his team combinations and the role each player had to play in the squad. The RR team in the 2008 season played like a group of 11 players. It was never a team of individuals and that is why we took them seriously. They were never the underdogs.”

Parthiv played for CSK till 2010 and admits to have learnt plenty from sharing the dressing room with some of the greats. Over the years, Parthiv has spent a season each for the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Deccan Chargers, along with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians. He played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2014 and returned to the franchise for his second run in 2018.

“I learned a lot in 2008 from watching players like Hussey, Fleming, and Hayden, how they get ready for big matches and how they prepare,” Parthiv said. “IPL has changed a lot. There are more tactics, analytics and strategies. We used to aim for 30 to 36 runs in the last 5 overs of batting. Now scoring 50 to 60 runs in the last five overs of the first innings is the new normal.”

(-In case you want to relive the match, tune in to the Star Sports network on Friday, May 29th from 3 PM)