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SPORTS MARCH 29, 2024 | The Indian Eye 49

head coach Stephen Fleming on young Gill’s leadership skills saying
Thursday revealed that CSK was hes- he is blessed with a ‘cricketing brain’,
itant to replace MS Dhoni. which will help him to lead the fran-
Ahead of the curtain-raiser of chise in the upcoming edition of the
IPL 2024 against Royal Challeng- cash-rich domestic league.
ers Bengaluru in Chennai, CSK an-
nounced that opening batter Ruturaj Calling Gill, who scored a cou-
Gaikwad would take the captaincy
baton from the 42-year-old. The ple of centuris in a phenemonal
announcement marked the end of red-ball series against England
Dhoni’s long reign at the helm of the
CSK, during which he led Chennai to at home, as a ‘world class’
five IPL crowns. cricketer, the premier Kiwi bat-
In IPL 2022, Dhoni handed over
the captaincy to Jadeja. However, he ter said he has already spent a
returned to lead the franchise again bit of time with the 24-year-old
after just eight matches into the edi-
tion. off the field during the last edi-
“The big thing about a couple tion of the league and is ‘excit-
of years ago was that we probably
weren’t ready for MS [Dhoni] to ed’ for the new season.
move aside and what that did was
probably shake us as a leadership “Firstly, he is a world class play-
group or coaches into looking at the er and has a really good cricketing
possibility of when he does go and up brain. I spent a bit of time with him
until that stage that was almost un- last year and is excited to play along-
thinkable,” Fleming said in a press side him again in this IPL season,”
conference. Williamson said.
Fleming stated that Dhoni had Asked if he would share his lead-
looked encouraging in practice ership experience with the young
matches leading up to the IPL and batter as he gets ready to don the
hoped he would not experience any skipper’s hat at Gujarat Titans and
fitness difficulties during the compe- lead his team out on the field, the
tition. The 42-year-old, who remains Gujarat Titans’ Shubhman Gill plays a shot during the 1st qualifier match of Indian Premier former New Zealand captain, who
one of Indian cricket’s most admired League 2023 against Chennai Super Kings, at MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai (ANI) is ranked among the top batters in
faces, enjoying fandom that rivals world cricket today, said he would be
that of some current stars, captained ‘supporting’ Gill in ‘any and whatev-
Chennai since the inaugural IPL sea- DC confirmed the 26-year-old as for India as well because he is a spe- er way’ he would like.
son in 2008, barring two years when the captain of the franchise in an of- cial talent, a special player,” Ganguly Williamson added that Gill
the franchise was suspended from ficial statement. reflected. needs to be ‘authentic’ and back his
the tournament over fixing charges. “He has probably batted more in Pant has represented DC since batting and leadership abilities in the
the last week than he has ever batted 2016 and scored 2,838 runs in 98 17th season of the IPL.
“RISHABH WANTS TO GET leading into most of the IPLs. I think matches at an average of 34.61 and a “I look forward to supporting
BIT OF TRUST BACK IN HIS from his point of view, he wants to get strike rate of over 147, with a century Shubman Gill in any way that I can
and 15 fifties to his name.
or whatever way that he would like.
a bit of trust back in his body again.
BODY AGAIN”: PONTING He has been putting himself through The star wicketkeeper-batter But ultimately, its about Shubman
elhi Capitals (DC) head a few different paces and playing all was reappointed as the captain of being authentic to himself and back-
coach Ricky Ponting revealed the shots that he plays. He has been Delhi Capitals earlier this week. ing himself and I know that everyone
Dthat after being sidelined for great, and more importantly, he has Ponting added that Pant exudes would really support him with all that
14 months, captain Rishabh Pant is got a smile on his face, which is what an infectious enthusiasm that draws and look forward to doing that,” he
putting extra effort into putting a bit all we love to see,” Ponting said of teammates to him. added.
of trust back in his body again as DC Pant’s approach at the pre-season Asked if the IPL 2024 would
gear up for Indian Premier League camp in an officials statement by DC. WILLIAMSON HEAPS PRAISE help all overseas stars to prepare for
(IPL) 2024. Meanwhile, the Director of ON SHUBMAN GILL the upcoming T20 World Cup, which
DC will open their IPL 2024 Cricket Sourav Ganguly shared some would be co-hosted by the Caribbean
campaign against Punjab Kings insights on Pant’s readiness for the head of his debut as skipper and the US, the 33-year-old said it
(PBKS) at the Maharaja Yadavindra upcoming season and said the wick- of his IPL franchise and last will be a ‘positive thing’ to be playing
Singh International Cricket Stadium et-keeper batter had gone through Ayear’s runners-up Gujarat Ti- the cash-rich league right ahead of
in Chandigarh on Saturday. an emotional roller-coaster during tans, Indian batting prodigy Subhman the premier world event but his focus
The wicketkeeper-batter is mak- his recovery journey. Gill received glowing praise from will be on the IPL.
ing a return to professional cricket “I’m surprised with the improve- marquee teammate Kane William- “I would not say the word prepa-
after 14 months and has been a part ments he has made. Hopefully, it’s a son. ration. It’s nice that there’s a lot of
of the Delhi Capitals pre-season good season for him because he has In a chat a day before the cur- T20 cricket now. If you factor in the
preparatory camp in Vizag. Pant gone through a lot emotionally. It’s tains go up on this year’s Indian IPL and on the back of it, the T20
suffered a near-fatal accident in De- never easy when you go through that Premier League, Williamson, who World Cup,. So. I am sure all the
cember 2022, resulting in a year-long sort of injury. It will be great to see carried the leadership mantle on players involved would enjoy that...
recuperation period and forcing him him back not just for the Delhi Capi- his sholduers for New Zealand for So, that’s a positive thing but the fo-
to miss last year’s IPL. tals, but for the Delhi Ranji team and a number of years, spoke highly of cus is on the tournament,” he added.

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