'He is a fantastic leader and captain': MS Dhoni's most trusted spinner on his captaincy

Maheesh Theekshana, a rising talent hailing from Sri Lanka, has swiftly captured the cricketing world's attention with his prowess as a spinner. Making his debut in the IPL during the 2022 season with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Theekshana showcased remarkable potential as a mystery spinner. The 21-year-old spinner's ability to weave a web of confusion for batsmen, coupled with his economical bowling, earned him 12 wickets in his debut season.

3 things you need to know

• Maheesh Theekshana helped CSK win their 5th IPL title this year
• Theekshana played 13 matches and picked up 11 wickets
• The Sri Lankan spinner spoke about playing under Dhoni's captaincy

Also Read: 'Things Went South For India': Ex Pak Pacer Burns Rohit Sharma With 'MS Dhoni' Remark

Maheesh Theekshana opens up on MS Dhoni's captaincy

Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana heaped praise on his Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper, MS Dhoni, underscoring the invaluable learning experience Dhoni imparts to the team. Speaking in an interview with RevSportz, Theekshana underscored Dhoni's outstanding qualities as a captain and leader.

Theekshana lauded Dhoni as a remarkable presence radiating composure and adeptly handling pressure. He highlighted that Dhoni's leadership influence extends beyond himself, permeating the entire team, with everyone imbibing valuable lessons from his approach.

"MS Dhoni is a fantastic leader and captain. His composure is something each one of us has benefitted from. When you speak to someone like him and see how he handles pressure despite all the hype around, you know how it can or should be done. Not just me, each one of us in the Chennai team has learnt from having him around," Theekshana said. 

Also Read: 'He Can Be The Next Dhoni Or Yuvraj': India Legend Goes Gaga Over Talented Youngster

Theekshana's journey with Chennai Super Kings so far

As one of Dhoni's most trusted spinners, Theekshana seems poised for retention by the five-time IPL champions as they gear up for the IPL 2024 season. Theekshana made his IPL debut in the 2022 season, joining the Chennai Super Kings after being picked up for INR 70 lakhs at the 2022 Mega Auction. 

Although his start with the team was delayed due to national commitments, he made a significant impact by participating in 13 matches in this year's IPL, securing 11 wickets and boasting a strike rate of 26.73.

Image: BCCI/IPL