IPL

I'll be lying if I say I've moved on: Dhoni

Last updated on Monday, 15 February, 2016, 10:01 PM

Dhoni launching the jersey of Rising Pune Supergiants. © AFP

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has admitted that he hasn't quite moved on from Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who have been suspended from the Indian Premier League (IPL) for two seasons. He will be leading the new franchise Rising Pune Supergiants this season and Dhoni said it will feel 'a little different' when he walks out to the middle donning a different jersey from what he has been wearing for eight years.

"I would be lying if I say I have moved on. That is the special part of being a human being. There has got to be an emotional connect after eight years (with CSK). After eight years of IPL, it feels very different to play for any other team," Dhoni said at the jersey launch of his new team.

"All of a sudden if you want me to say that I am very excited to play for a new team, don't give credit to CSK and the fans for the love and affection they have given us, it will be wrong. But as a professional, I would like to thank the Pune team for taking me. Of course there will be added responsibility as captain but as a professional we are supposed to do the job with more than 100 hundred percent commitment. And that is what we will try to do," he added.

Dhoni also admitted that he would miss playing alongside the likes of Suresh Raina, Brendon McCullum and Ravindra Jadeja as the trio will turn out for the new franchise from Rajkot.

"There are a lot of players we will miss," he said. "We were together for eight years, our core group was the same. We were so consistent and our strength was that we played as a team. We have taken some former CSK players but then at the auction, the two new teams were expected to do most of the buying. If you look at the six other franchisees, they have a settled lot. Therefore, the pressure will be on the new franchise."

But at the same time, he is happy that his side will yet again be coached by Stephen Fleming. "The life becomes slightly easy with him around. We know each other for long time," he said. "He is a fantastic coach. His management skills are very good. What I really like is that he is calm like me. It is good to have him and hopefully it will work for us."

When asked if it would be difficult to manage someone like Kevin Pietersen in the dressing room, the Pune skipper brushed aside such suggestions. "Every player will have a role in the team. There is a basic way every cricketer plays," he said. "KP is fantastic, somebody who is aggressive and expressive on the field. Not only has that, he like other seniors, had an added responsibility to groom the youngsters."