‘Kohli khud Dhoni ke under khelna chahega’ – Fans react as Joe Root, Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal pick playing under MS Dhoni above Virat Kohli

After the completion of first half of the 16th edition of the IPL, the defending champions, Gujarat Titans (GT) are on top with 12 points in nine games. On the other hand, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and four-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are in second and third position respectively with 11 points each. In the fourth position is the Rajasthan Royals (RR), who have 10 points in the nine games they have played so far in the cash-rich league.

In the recent fixture between RR and CSK, Rajasthan defeated Chennai by 32 runs in the 37th encounter of IPL 2023, which was played at Jaipur. The star performer of the match was Yashashvi Jaiswal, who scored 77 runs which took his side to a 200-mark. In the earlier game, which was played at MA Chidambaram, in Chennai, CSK lost that game too as the local boy. Ravichandran Ashwin outclassed his former team with both bat and ball.

I just took that decision and came out: Ravichandran Ashwin

“I enjoyed both (on which POTM award he liked better). I was trying to hit the ball but I was aware of which side the wind was blowing, but I was also clear in my mind that I have to go and play good cricketing shots. It is not about just this season, I have been putting in the effort with the team management and I keep speaking to senior players like Dhoni sir and Virat bhai. I enjoy pressure and want to be there when there is pressure. I was only thinking of keeping my strike rate high and I knew we need 200 to defend on this surface,” Jaiswal was quoted as saying in the post-match presentation.

“I surprise people I guess. Whenever I walk out to bat, people assume I just took that decision and came out, but that’s a role given to me, we lost Sanju and I had to do a job. I am far better at judging my strengths, I take a few balls to get going. Every batting innings, I am padded up from the start. It’s not an easy thing but it is good. I came off with good Test form. I feel I am able to get good grip and drop on the ball at the right lengths. If I was not able to do those things in the two years (with Punjab Kings) then I wouldn’t be able to do it here. Success or failure, it has to be on my own terms,” Ashwin was quoted as saying in the post-match presentation.

Recently, after the match, there was a poll for RR players where they have to choose either MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli, who they want to play under, where the players like Joe Root, Dhruv Jurel, and Devdutt Padikkal picked to play under the CSK skipper.

Here’s how fans reacted on RR players picks:

https://twitter.com/nikhilsp27/status/1654060741530624003

https://twitter.com/BhaiyersWillahi/status/1654057980638134272

Respect earned not begged prime example
Paddikal play under virat but still he choose Dhoni that's all

— aashu (@aashu291298) May 4, 2023

https://twitter.com/GrassyWay/status/1654059588822478848

Virat Kohli captain thodi hai ab

Logicless Question

— Lɪᴛʜɪᴜᴍ (@Lithium188) May 4, 2023

https://twitter.com/GamingWithRoha5/status/1654057829538607104

Padikkal also chose to play under MSD and some Kohli fans says that Devdutt was best when he played under Virat Captaincy

— Kunal Bishwal (@KunalBishwal18) May 4, 2023

@rajasthanroyals well done pic.twitter.com/1DIYoZQJrX

— Viz (@4_viz) May 4, 2023

Naturally they will pick playing under the captain who has won important trophies and knows how to behave as well.

— Pooh (@ThodaYehThodaWo) May 4, 2023

Joe Root, Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal are three special players who have been chosen to play on a team with the famous cricket player, Ms. Dhoni.

— Bob Is Here To Explain (@ExplainThisBob) May 4, 2023