‘That was his superpower’: Faf du Plessis reveals what made MS Dhoni special

MS Dhoni (left) and Faf du Plessis (TOI photo) Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis offered an insight into what made MS Dhoni stand out as a leader during their time together with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), highlighting the former India captain’s instinctive approach to the game and his ability to remain calm under pressure.Du Plessis spent nine seasons with CSK before joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2022. He scored 4,773 runs in 154 IPL appearances and won three IPL titles during his time with the Chennai-based franchise. Reflecting on his experience of playing under Dhoni, the Proteas batsman explained how the keeper-batsman’s ability to read situations and react instinctively influenced his own approach to captaincy.In an interview on the Prakhar Gupta Podcast, Du Plessis said that Dhoni preferred to assess the circumstances as they unfolded rather than relying heavily on pre-match plans.“This kid has an incredible understanding of the game on the pitch. He doesn’t like to plan too much in advance and prefers to be instinctive during the match. That was his superpower. He read the game and the players while remaining remarkably calm because everyone knows he’s a very level-headed person. That’s something I want to take from him and apply to my own captaincy,” said Faf.

MS Dhoni’s IPL future depends on fitness

While Du Plessis reflected on the lessons he learned from Dhoni, uncertainty still surrounds the former CSK captain’s playing future. Dhoni expressed his desire to feature for the franchise in the next IPL season, but made it clear that his fitness will determine whether he can continue.At a recent event, Dhoni said that he will assess his physical condition before taking a final decision on his participation.“You will know by December,” said Dhoni. “Doc, I’m going to have to pass a test. You’re going to have to give me a report and then I’ll have to see how strong I am by December to play one more season.”The wicketkeeper, who will turn 46 next year, has missed the entire IPL 2026 season due to recurring injuries. His potential return remains a significant point for CSK, who have struggled to recapture their earlier successes in recent seasons.Dhoni stepped down as captain in 2024 and handed over the reins to Ruturaji Gaikwad. Since then, CSK have failed to make the playoffs, finishing fifth, tenth and eighth in the points table in three seasons.Dhoni also reacted to the possibility of not being able to continue playing and used humor to emphasize the importance of being fit.“And if I’m not (fit enough) then, you know, you’re going to have to make sure you do everything right with me and make sure this old vintage vehicle runs well on the road. So all the pressure is on them,” Dhoni added with a touch of levity, as he often does when answering questions about his future.The CSK management had earlier hinted that the decision rests with Dhoni himself. However, the franchise is also preparing for a major overhaul ahead of next season when long-time coach Stephen Fleming will depart and be succeeded by Zaheer Khan.Dhoni’s role in the revamped setup remains uncertain. Whether he returns to the pitch as a player or takes up a role off the pitch will depend on his fitness assessment and the decision he makes by December.