IPL 2025 wasted due to an injury, the CSK Gurjapneet Singh stimulator still had a lot to learn from MS Dhoni

For any young player coming off the ranks, interacting and playing with legendary players becomes utmost important. It gives them the clarity, as to how to go about their business. And IPL plays an important role in all this. Before IPL 2025, Tamil Nadu pacer Gurjapneet Singh was picked by the CSK; even though he was replaced due to an injury, but he had discussions with MS Dhoni.

The towering pacer revealed, the tips MS Dhoni gave him to read the batter, and bowl according to the field. “Bowling to Dhoni is a very good challenge, because he is the best finisher of his time,” said Gurjapneet. “I have learnt so many points from him, how to read the batsman. He gave me tips, where you have to bowl according to the field. The IPL experience is totally different from other levels, other leagues are different,” he told RevSportz.

He further explained the intricacies of the game, he came to understand during his stint at the CSK. “He told about how the batsman would charge at you in the middle overs, death overs, or the new ball. So, at that time, what field you have to keep according to the batsman’s strength. Last season, I learnt a lot of things with CSK.”

In fact, just before his FC debut for the state, he managed to bowl in the nets to Virat Kohli as well, who was then preparing for the Bangladesh series. There, not only he beat him a few times, but bowled him too. “We were practicing, I was bowling well, he got beaten again and again, then I got his wicket… bowled,” said Gurjapneet.

“After the practice, he was very impressed with my bowling. After that we had a chat, he said, ‘You can use these kinds of small things, bowling from over the stumps, bowling round the stumps, again.’ I said, ‘Okay, I will keep working on it, keeping these things in my mind.’