IPL 2021: MS Dhoni all set for a new record for Chennai Super Kings

MS Dhoni is a history-maker whenever he steps out on the field. The former India captain is the only captain to have won all three major ICC trophies in his reign. He is also the first captain to win both the IPL and the now-defunct Champions League T20. He is the only player to have won the IPL and the CLT20 twice. Rohit Sharma captained Mumbai Indians in only one edition.

However, when Chennai Super Kings take on Rajasthan Royals, Dhoni will create even more history. Dhoni will become the first captain in history to lead a side in 200 T20 matches. Recently, Dhoni played his 200^th match for Chennai Super Kings when they defeated Punjab Kings by six wickets. Now, Dhoni will captain Chennai Super Kings for the 200^th time.

The captaincy numbers include his 24 matches in the Champions League T20 from 2010 to 2014. The match against Punjab Kings was his 199^th match as captain. In 2011, he missed a couple of games with an elbow injury that he sustained against Kolkata Knight Riders. In one match, Suresh Raina was the captain as Dhoni focused on wicketkeeping duties.

Dhoni in an elite league

Dhoni is one of the only two players after Rohit Sharma to play more than 200 games in the IPL. When Chennai Super Kings were banned for two years, Dhoni was part of the Rising Pune Supergiant. After failing in 2016, Rising Pune Supergiant almost clinched the title in 2017 but they lost by one run to Mumbai Indians in Hyderabad. In 2017, Steve Smith was the captain of the side.

In IPL 2020, Dhoni faced the toughest time in captaincy when Chennai Super Kings failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time. They finished in seventh position in a campaign that saw them lose key players to injury and the coronavirus situation. 

Chennai Super Kings lost their opening game to Delhi Capitals by seven wickets but came back strongly with a six-wicket win against Punjab Kings.