Equal respect for all and being empathetic to players during their lowest phase has been the hallmark of Chennai Super Kings management, which has resulted in four IPL trophies, feels senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
Jadeja, who was the captain for the first phase during last year, didn’t get the desired results and was replaced by the peerless Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose every word is believed to be the holy grail in the CSK corridors.
It was learned that Jadeja was a bit upset after giving up the captaincy, and there were rumours that he wanted to leave the franchise, but all the differences were ironed out much before the current season began.
“CSK management and the owners (N Srinivasan) never put any pressure on any players. Even now after 11 years with CSK, they have the same attitude and the approach. They’ll never make you feel low even when you aren’t performing well,” Jadeja told ‘Star Sports’. The southpaw said that there is no hierarchy in the team set-up, and he has never felt that there is any bias for any particular player.
“There is no senior and junior kind of thing there. Even any youngster from U-19 will get the same respect and treatment like other senior players. No pressure at all. No biasness among any players, whether they are playing or not.” For Jadeja, the connection with fans, the ‘Whistle Podu’ brigade, is deeply emotional at one level.
He spoke on how the CSK franchise has been instrumental in building a deeper connection with the fans, especially when they had to play their home games in Pune in the 2018 edition of the tournament.
“In Pune, CSK Franchise made complete arrangement for 2k-3k fans to stay in Pune and watch all those seven matches which were scheduled to be played in Pune. Their stay and food arrangements, everything was done by CSK franchise. Also they were given CSK jerseys.” CSK are back at home ground and Jadeja says he can feel the buzz even during training sessions. “This time at home ground there will be a lot of excitement because sometimes when we practice it feels like we are here to play a match because 15-20k fans comes to watch us practice.
“Complete one stand gets filled and cheer for us till the time we practice. It will be lot more exciting this time because we haven’t played at our home ground since few years and Mahi Bhai is back this season, so it’ll be a big occasion for fans to see him in Chennai.”
