Three young players for the Chennai Super Kings recently shared their early experiences with the team. Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, and Gurjapneet Singh spoke about their time at the franchise’s pre-season camp. They attended a local event in Chennai on Monday. During this public appearance, they revealed the very first lessons they learned from the legendary former captain, M.S. Dhoni.
The players were speaking at the inauguration of the 12th Pavit Singh Nayar Memorial All India inter-college T20 tournament. This sporting event took place at the Guru Nanak College in the city.
Prashant Veer’s Practical Lesson on Wealth
Prashant Veer is a 20-year-old all-rounder. The Chennai Super Kings bought him at the auction for a massive sum of INR 14.20 crore. Many people would expect a young player to immediately get cricket advice from a legend like Dhoni. However, Dhoni had a completely different first lesson for the new recruit.
The advice was not about field placements. It was also not about how to finish a close cricket match. Instead, Dhoni gave him very practical advice about life and money. Prashant smiled as he shared the story. He explained that they had not talked much about actual cricket yet. Dhoni simply told the young player to save his money carefully. He strongly advised Prashant not to spend his new earnings on unnecessary things.
Finding His Spot in the Batting Order
Prashant also talked about his specific role as a batsman in the squad. He was very clear about where he wants to play. He feels comfortable batting in almost any situation during a match. He stated that he is ready to bat at any position the team requires. However, he drew the line at one specific spot. He mentioned that he would do anything as long as he does not have to open the batting. He joked about this preference while explaining his comfort with the rest of the batting order.
Getting Used to the High-Intensity Camp
Joining the Indian Premier League is a huge step up for any young cricketer. For Prashant, the first few days at the training camp were all about adjusting. He spent his time getting used to the new environment and learning from the experienced players.
He described the team atmosphere as very positive. He said that everyone in the camp is highly supportive of the newcomers. Prashant expressed how good it feels to mix with the team and play together. He called it a great feeling for himself, his family, and his hometown village of Sahajipur in Uttar Pradesh. He feels truly blessed to be part of the setup.
Still, the step up to the IPL level was an eye-opener. This is his very first time in the league. He admitted that he had never experienced practice sessions like these before. The overall environment is completely different from domestic cricket. The intensity of the training is also much higher. Because of this, he said it naturally takes a little bit of time to get fully used to the new routine.
Ignoring the Comparisons to Jadeja
Prashant is a left-arm spin all-rounder. Because of this, people have started comparing him to veteran star Ravindra Jadeja. Prashant knows these comparisons exist, but he insists that he is only focusing on his own cricket skills.
He stated that his first priority is to do what he already knows. He wants to rely on the things he has practiced and the skills that brought him to the IPL. He knows that trying to replace a legend is dangerous. He explained that if he constantly thinks about taking Jadeja’s place, it will create too much pressure. He respects what Jadeja has achieved for both the franchise and the Indian national team. He knows those achievements are not easy to repeat. Therefore, his current goal is just to focus strictly on his own game.
The Hard Work Behind the IPL Selection
Prashant earned his spot in the IPL through hard work in domestic cricket. He credited his consistent performance over the past season for his recent success. He pointed out that a single tournament cannot decide a player’s entire career. A player must perform well throughout a long domestic season, which usually lasts five or six months.
He had a fantastic run this past season. He won the Player of the Tournament award in the BCCI men’s Under-23 State-A One-Day Trophy. He was also named the Emerging Player in the UPT20 league. He believes his major turning point was his dedication to playing multiple formats. He constantly traveled between Mumbai and Kolkata so he could play in both the State-A Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Kartik Sharma Focuses on Finishing Games
Prashant was not the only one sharing his camp experiences. Kartik Sharma is a 19-year-old wicketkeeper and batter. He also shared his main goals for the pre-season camp.
His primary focus is to learn directly from M.S. Dhoni. He specifically wants to understand Dhoni’s famous ability to finish matches. He also wants to learn about tactical game planning. He clearly stated that he wants to learn how to successfully finish close games.
Like Prashant, Kartik was deeply impressed by the Chennai Super Kings’ setup. He praised the training facilities at the CSK High Performance Centre. He noted that the training environment was excellent. He mentioned that he had never experienced this level of practice before. He specifically praised the great ground and the high quality of the practice wickets.
Gurjapneet Singh Learns to Read the Batter
Gurjapneet Singh is a left-arm fast bowler for the team. He also shared some valuable insights from the training camp. He mentioned that he had many helpful conversations with Eric Simons, the team’s bowling consultant, during the previous season.
When it came to advice from Dhoni, it was all about strategy. He said Dhoni’s advice usually focuses on reading the mind of the batsman. Dhoni told him that if a bowler has a good slower ball or a good yorker, they must build their strategy around that specific strength. The biggest lesson was about timing. Dhoni advised him to think about what the batter is expecting at the very last moment before bowling. Then, the bowler should deliver the ball based on that split-second thought.
Conclusion
The pre-season camp has clearly been a major learning experience for these young cricketers. Getting to share a dressing room with an icon like M.S. Dhoni is a rare opportunity. The advice they received covers everything from basic financial planning to reading a batsman’s mind at the crease. Whether it is Prashant Veer learning to manage his new wealth, Kartik Sharma studying the art of finishing, or Gurjapneet Singh mastering his bowling strategy, the camp has provided a solid foundation. These early lessons will surely help guide them as they prepare for the high-pressure environment of the upcoming Indian Premier League season.
