- July 21, 2025
If you thought that cricket knowledge is just a result of becoming older and being involved in the game long enough, you should think again. The IPL 2025 season threw up a golden nugget of mentoring moments as the new star of the Chennai Super Kings, Urvil Patel, passed on MS Dhoni’s priceless advice. After a sensational start which included an outrageous 31 runs off just 11 balls, Dhoni’s advice was astonishingly basic but with layers of context. This sounds like the advice every young cricketer dreams of.
The Power of Backing Freedom: Why CSK’s Trust Matters
When a cricketer enters the IPL mid-way as a replacement (and especially a replacement wicketkeeper-batter to boot), there is often pressure to play conservatively. Not a chance for Urvil Patel. The franchise allowed him to express himself, and that was clear to see. Urvil discussed on the GC Podcast how the team management encouraged him to play the game as he did in trial matches, with a guarantee of three games to show their faith in him.
The freedom to play freely is not just about chilling out — it’s about trusting a player’s instincts to do what they are capable of doing. Recognizing that CSK had his back allowed Urvil to let his inner savage lough; it is how that raw power can be controlled that is important. Dhoni knows better than anyone how instinct and aggression have to be coupled with educated shot selection, especially when the stakes are high in the IPL. Dhoni never questioned Urvil’s ability, but it was about maturity, making better decisions in using his strength, rather than getting carried away.
From Rookie to Reliable
Urvil’s three matches following his debut — 31, 0, 37 against KKR, RR, and GT, respectively — had some portions where you could see the player figuring out his role. Sure, that duck might have raised an eyebrow during the second match, but the fact that he was able to take a day and bounce back with an improved shot selection shows Dhoni’s impact.
Yet IPL cricket, like any number of other sports, features speed and power, with the only caveat being that it takes in a wider universe – tactical awareness, capacity for adaptation, and mental state are also in the mix. I found it interesting to witness Urvil grow while wearing a CSK yellow shirt and transitioning to being a smart power hitter and a few other experiences under Dhoni.
So, the big question is: can Urvil harness this mix of power and calmness to establish himself in CSK’s permanent eleven and perhaps a national call-up?ose and showcase that brutal hitting power that was already his calling card back home. Urvil’s hundred was so fast, bowlers were still setting their field when the scoreboard hit triple digits. More often than not, the freedom to go is what these young players need to prove their ability when they finally get to those big moments.
MS Dhoni’s Advice
Now, here’s where things get very interesting. After Urvil’s hasty and extravagant innings—he played a rash and entertaining shot for getting out—Dhoni’s words were not negative; instead, they were an implication and a slight lesson. “You tried hard at the shot; if you had played it safe, it would have gone for 6 or 4,” Dhoni told him, then said, “From this match onwards, play it safe, not try as hard. You already have a lot of power.”
We see Dhoni’s genius in a nutshell here. What is the message? Just because one has raw power, it isn’t eno.
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