One of the most successful captains of the Indian cricket team and arguably of the entire world, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the hope that all Chennai Super Kings fans would be clinging on to ahead of the IPL 2021. To boost those hopes, MSD of 2021-the calm, composed and enigmatic personality had a meeting with the Mahi of 2005, the long brown-haired flamboyant Dhoni that hit sixes for fun and didn’t care about the situation or the opposition.
All of this took place in an advertisement for an engine oil brand. In the ad, the Dhoni of yesteryears, a bit shy, with a teasing smile is conversing with a Dhoni of 2021, bulkier, probably with experience and the burden of carrying the most loved team in the world and the most loved club in the IPL on his shoulders for more than 13 years now.
The 2005 Dhoni is surprised to know that he would be winning two World Cups, a Champions Trophy and three IPL titles along with a Champions League. He also comes to know that he would be giving up on his favourite things like Butter Chicken.
It is the chemistry between the two Dhonis that would pull viewers towards the video. At one instant, the 2005 version Dhoni says, “I am learning a lot from seniors and the coaches and trying to improve my game and slowly and steadily I will catch up,”. There is tension in his eyes and evidently in his sly smile, to which Dhoni of today replies, “Just relax a bit” and the 2005 Dhoni says, “Thank You Sir.” The innocence with which he says that 'Thank You Sir' will transfer you back in time and take you to the Jaipurs, the Vishakhapatnams and Rawalpindis where we saw that raw Dhoni for the first time.
CSK plays its first encounter of the IPL 2021 against Delhi Capitals on 10th April at the Wankhede.