The Chennai Super Kings management remains optimistic about MS Dhoni's participation in the ongoing IPL 2023 season, despite him nursing a knee injury that has limited his movements. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed that Dhoni has not indicated any intention to miss games due to the injury, stating, "He will play." Coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged Dhoni's injury but praised his professionalism and dedication to the team. Dhoni, known for playing through injuries, has retired from international cricket and has the flexibility to continue playing for CSK despite not being at 100% fitness. On the other hand, CSK's star all-rounder Ben Stokes is expected to miss at least three more games as he recovers from a left toe injury sustained while bowling. CSK CEO Viswanathan provided an update on Stokes' recovery, stating that he is progressing well and should be fit for the April 30th game against Punjab Kings, with a possibility of returning earlier for the April
S hardul Thakur's impressive innings of 68 runs off just 29 balls, combined with exceptional performances from spinners Varun Chakravarthy, Suyash Sharma, and Sunil Narine, helped Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secure their first points of IPL 2023 with a resounding 81-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Despite a shaky start with the bat, including a first-ball duck for Andre Russell, Rahmanullah Gurbaz's crucial knock of 57 off 44 balls provided some stability for KKR. However, it was Shardul Thakur's aggressive batting display that turned the tables on RCB's bowlers. He smashed boundaries and sixes, hitting a joint-quickest half-century of the season in just 20 balls. Rinku Singh also played a supporting role, contributing 46 runs off 33 balls as he and Shardul added 103 runs for the sixth wicket. KKR's total of 204/7 was a challenging target for RCB. In response, RCB started well with Virat Kohli and Faf du Plesis smashing 42 runs off the first fou