After a terrible season last year, Chennai Super Kings will kick off their IPL 2021 campaign against Delhi Capitals at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. After an exciting start to the tournament on Friday, the first weekend clash of the season, pitting MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant against each other, promises to be another blockbuster. Team India head coach Ravi Shastri took to Twitter to express his delight at the possibility of the two wicket-keepers facing off: “Chela vs. Guru. (It’ll be a lot of fun tonight) Bahot Maza aayega aaj #DhoniReturns #Pant #IPL2021 #DCvsCSK – @ChennaiIPL @DelhiCapitals Stump Mic suniyega zaroor (listen to the stump mic) #DhoniReturns #Pant #IPL2021 #DCvsCSK – @ChennaiIPL @DelhiCapitals “..
#CaptionThis 💙#YehHaiNayiDilli #VIVOIPL #IPL2021 #CSKvDC @RishabhPant17 @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/Li3rmj69KA
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 10, 2021
Shastri referred to the former India captain as his guru (mentor) and Pant as his chela (disciple) in his tweet, as well as making a plea to the fans to listen to the stump mic during the game.
Both Dhoni and Pant are vocal behind the stumps, attempting to assist the bowlers as they bowl. Though Dhoni’s concentration is on strategizing with his bowlers, Pant’s chirpiness behind the stumps draws extra attention.
Pant is looking forward to playing against his coach in their first match, and believes it would be a “positive experience” for him because he has learned a lot while playing under MS Dhoni. However, he believes it is equally necessary for him to draw on his own experience and adapt it to his game in order to devise a new strategy against the IPL’s second most competitive team..