On the cricket field or facing a phalanx of photographers and media people, the Indian cricket captain, M.S. Dhoni, is cool as a cucumber. The star attraction at a press conference of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the bald Dhoni fielded questions from the media with aplomb. Among the rapid-fire questions on a variety of issues ranging from team selection of the CSK to whether the players would be physically drained after the World Cup, Dhoni answered patiently.

Asked what his leadership style is, given that a lot of analysis is being spewed out on his role in the finals, Dhoni merely said he believes in keeping things simple as cricket is a simple game. “The more you think about it, the more complex it becomes. So, don't get led by the hype,” he said. The team's success is due to all players backing each other and enjoying each other's success, which helped keep unwanted pressure out. Asked by a newsperson that after winning the T-20, the IPL and the World Cup what else was left to achieve, Dhoni was quick in repartee: “I don't mind repeating all the wins!” Lastly, why had he shaved his head? No reply that it was an offering to gods or goddesses; “I had planned for Chennai, I knew it will be hot!”

Meanwhile, post conference, in a chat with mediapersons, Mr Rakesh Singh, marketing head, India Cements, said given that CSK is the top team in the IPL league now, it had raised the bar for sponsorship of CSK to keep out clutter. Rates for sponsorship, up fourfold from last year, were finalised in March itself before the World Cup.

“We wanted only good and serious brands,” said Mr Singh.

Mr Singh said with more teams and more sponsors for IPL, the ten teams this year stood to gain more from the central pool of revenues from BCCI. CSK, he said, lost money in the second season as the tournament was shifted to South Africa, broke even last year and this year it would be handsomely in the black.

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