NEW DELHI: It has been two years since young batter Ayush Mhatre began his journey with Chennai Super Kings, and sharing the dressing room with MS Dhoni has taken his game to another level. Mhatre spoke about the influence Dhoni has had on his career, crediting him for shaping his leadership skills – something that also played a role in India’s Under-19 World Cup triumph earlier this year.Mhatre, who captained India to the U-19 World Cup title, reflected on his interactions with Dhoni during IPL 2025, describing them as crucial to his growth as a young leader.“Last year, I got the opportunity to play under Mahi bhai. I was the captain of the India U19 that time. I spoke to him about captaincy after the IPL, I asked for his advice as it was my first time as a captain. He advised me to stay calm on the ground and never make decisions when angry. He said, ‘There will be frustration sometimes due to partnerships by opposition, but if you stay calm for that short period and just breathe and wait for it to pass, you will be able to make good decisions’,” he said in a video shared by IPL on Tuesday.The youngster also opened up about fulfilling a long-cherished dream of representing one of the IPL’s most successful franchises and the surreal experience of sharing the dressing room with players he once watched on television.“It is a dream to play and represent a big franchise like CSK. And to play for them is a big deal. And so the opportunity to play alongside Mahi (M.S. Dhoni) bhai, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and (Shivam) Dube bhai. I used to watch them on TV till last year, and now I am sharing the dressing room with them. It’s like a dream,” he said.
Despite being new to the setup, Mhatre said he felt at home almost instantly, crediting the team’s culture for making the transition smooth.“I didn’t feel like my first time here when I joined them last year. I felt free here; that’s how the environment is. They live like a family. I often have fun with my teammates, in the room as well, we hang around, though I am shy when it comes to talking, but with teammates I am fine,” he expressed.Speaking about his role in the side, Mhatre emphasised flexibility and contributing to the team over focusing on a fixed batting position.“There is no specific role. They told me to just back myself and my game like the last year and no need to change anything, just watch the ball and play as per merit and contribute to the team’s win as much as possible. I just want to play. I don’t have any preference for the batting position. I am ready to bat at any position the team wants me to,” he stated.Mhatre also reflected on the changing dynamics of modern cricket, noting how the evolving tempo of the game has influenced his approach.“I don’t necessarily plan to play aggressively. T20 game has changed the style of play. Even in ODI, aggressive cricket has taken precedence. Stroke-making ability has improved a lot. It is not just the experienced players, in the last 3-4 years a lot of young strokemakers have come up and it makes me happy. To get such an opportunity at this age is truly incredible. To be able to play for such a successful franchise like CSK is a big deal in itself. So there is no room for fear, I will just continue playing as I always have,” he said.
