CSK vs. RCB Rivalry: Dhoni vs. Kohli, But Du Plessis in Between
Ahead of the IPL 2024 opener, RCB captain Faf du Plessis talks about MS Dhoni’s influence on his career and the special rivalry between CSK and RCB fueled by Dhoni and Virat Kohli.
Faf du Plessis, the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), recently made some interesting comments about MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli ahead of the IPL 2024 season opener.
With the opening match between CSK and RCB set for the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, Faf du Plessis cricket fans are buzzing with excitement. As CSK, the defending champions, will be playing on their home turf, they are considered the favorites.
This match will also mark the return of Faf du Plessis to Chennai. Before leading RCB, the South African batsman was a key member of Dhoni’s CSK squad, having joined them in 2012. Released by CSK ahead of the 2022 mega-auction, du Plessis was picked up by RCB and subsequently appointed captain after Virat Kohli stepped down from the role.
Praising Dhoni’s impact on his career, du Plessis went on record calling him the “greatest ever captain.” Speaking to Star Sports, he said, “He (Dhoni) is the greatest ever captain, and I am very lucky that I have spent some time with him over the years. I think that’s probably the biggest thing in my career, that shaped me from a leadership perspective, were my years at Chennai, just observing MS and Stephen Fleming. As a young leader, it was special to my growth.”
“As a leader that I am today. So I’m very grateful for MS and everything about his leadership because it shaped me. Faf du Plessis When I see him, it’s like a big brother that you see, you want to beat him but you don’t want to beat him because there’s so much respect for that.”
Du Plessis also made a significant statement about both Dhoni and Kohli. “But obviously when you get on the field, it’s such a great match, the RCB-Chennai match, it goes back so much with the two icons or two of the three icons of Indian cricket. I think the reason why Chennai is so loved and followed is MS Dhoni and the reason why RCB is so loved and passionate is because of Virat Kohli it’s special for me to have had time with both of them so I’m very lucky,” he added.
Du Plessis played a pivotal role in CSK’s championship run in 2021, scoring a significant 633 runs. He will be hoping to replicate a similar performance for his current team, RCB, this season.
