MS Dhoni\, Harbhajan Singh join Chennai Super Kings camp ahead of IPL 2019 

MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh join Chennai Super Kings camp ahead of IPL 2019 

MS Dhoni will lead Chennai Super Kings title defence in the upcoming season of IPL. CSK will take on Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore in the season opener in Chennai on March 23. 

Chennai
March 16, 2019
UPDATED: March 16, 2019 13:56 IST
Kedar Jadhav posted a photo of himself with his CSK teammates MS Dhoni and Shardul Thakur on Friday (kedarjadhavofficial Photo)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • MS Dhoni arrived in Chennai on Friday for Chennai Super Kings' title defence starting March 23
  • The likes of Harbhajan Singh and head coach Stephen Fleming also joined the CSK camp in Chennai
  • CSK will take on RCB in the IPL 2019 opener on Saturday, March 23

Chennai Super Kings have begun preparations for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 in full swing at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. While local players joined the camp earlier this week, big names including captain MS Dhoni, have arrived in Chennai.

MS Dhoni was spotted arriving in Chennai on Friday, a week ahead of the defending champions' opening game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) scheduled for March 23.

It seems Dhoni had flown to Chennai along with his India and CSK teammates, Kedar Jadhav and Shardul Thakur. Jadhav had taken to Instagram to post a photograph from their journey.

Earlier in the day, Dhoni was spotted having breakfast with head coach Stephen Fleming. Fleming, who has been working with the three-time champions over the years, seems to have landed in Chennai on Friday.

CSK also posted a photograph of World Cup-winning off-spinner Harbhajan Singh arriving at the team hotel on Saturday. Notably, Harbhajan played a key role in CSK's title-winning campaign in IPL 2018.

Dhoni had begun the World Cup year on a high, smashing three back-to-back half-centuries in India's historic 2-1 ODI series win in Australia in January. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman was rested for the final two ODIs of the recently-concluded five-match series against Australia at home.

Dhoni's absence was felt as India lost the series 3-2 despite having taken a 2-0 lead. In fact, the crowd in Mohali had chanted "Dhoni Dhoni" when young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant missed a few opportunities behind the wicket during the fourth ODI.

Dhoni will be hoping to begin CSK's title defence well when they take on Virat Kohli's RCB on Saturday. Notably, the ticket sales for the IPL opener went on sale earlier today. Thousands of cricket fans in Chennai queued up outside the MA Chidambaram Stadium to get their tickets to what promises to be a cracker of an opening encounter.

Chennai will be hosting its first IPL match since April 10, 2018. CSK were able to play only one match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium last year as their home matches were moved out of the city following protests over Cauvery River dispute.

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Posted byAkshay Ramesh