NEW DELHI: Former Chennai Super Kings player Sam Billings has shared an interesting behind-the-scenes story about MS Dhoni during his time in the IPL. Billings recalled how Dhoni created a relaxed, social environment within the team despite his superstar status.Speaking on a podcast, Billings revealed that Dhoni had a unique setup in his hotel room, including a dedicated person to manage his hookah.
“Dhoni. Has to be… I think just in terms of his captaincy, his aura,” Billings said. “He’s fantastic. In terms of just so incredibly calm. And he’s genuinely cool. You don’t meet many cool people nowadays, really. What a lovely guy, considering how much stardom he has and how much of a superstar. Obviously, a Man United fan, like myself.”He added, “And so we’d watch every Man United game. He can’t leave the hotel, can’t go downstairs to the hotel bar, and he’d get a load of the lads. His room is open, and he has a little ‘Shisha man’ who looks after the Shisha. His sole job is to look after the Shisha.”
‘That’s why I don’t see a role for MS Dhoni’: AB de Villiers
“I feel that in the last few years, his role has purely been about keeping that brand as strong as possible. That’s why I don’t see a role for him batting at eight or nine and not really doing enough, like last season,” De Villiers said, as quoted by news agency PTI.“We know he can be impactful with the bat, but if he’s batting that low and not captaining, it feels like he’s almost just making up for a spot for the wrong reasons. There’s still a place for him, but he needs to bat higher, at least at six, maybe even at five or four at times.”“I do feel Ruturaj and Sanju are the perfect players to take over from MS (Dhoni). My only issue is where MS fits in and if he’s not going to have that big impact batting at 4, 5, 6 sometimes, then rather be out of the squad,” De Villiers said, adding, “Let someone else, that can maybe bowl and bat and have a bigger impact in the game,to come in there and then MS can almost sit on the side as a mentor and still guide the guys.”
