Dhoni is a finisher who excels at big stage

Expect MS to do well in a final, Super Kings top official Viswanathan says

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the feared finisher of the game, will rise to the big occasion and come out well, a top Chennai Super Kings official said in a veiled threat to the rivals on the eve of the Indian Premier League Season 14 final against Kolkata Knight Riders to be held today at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

“Whenever the chips are down and whenever the occasion is big, MS comes out well. Whether it is IPL final or World Cup final, you can expect Dhoni to do very well,” Kasi Viswanathan, CEO of Chennai Super Kings, told Gulf News in an exclusive chat today.

Talking about the transformation, Viswanathan, who did not hide his elation after reaching the final, said: “We were confident we would do well this season. “We started preparing very early for the season. In the first phase we had a month’s camp in Chennai and when we came over to Dubai in the second phase, we came a month early. The team landed on August 13 and started practicing from August 20. Basically the process was set and the results are coming up.” The Super Kings now get a chance to avenge the loss they suffered in 2012 final at the hands of Kolkata.

However, the form of the team points towards the consistent Yellow Lions, who have breezed to the playoffs before a stutter in the final rounds of the league phase. They ended the rot when Dhoni again showcased his feared finishing touches to take Chennai past the line against tabletoppers Delhi Capitals in the Qualifier 1 at the same venue last Sunday.

Barring this one change, Super Kings might retain the same squad as skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is not an advocate of frequent chopping and churning of the playing XI. Despite Uthappa not among the runs, Chennai team management continued to repose their faith on the former Indian opener, who repaid that with a matchwinning knock.