Sam Billings Shares Insights on Playing with MS Dhoni in IPL

Reflections on Playing Under Dhoni

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player Sam Billings recently shared his memorable experiences of playing alongside MS Dhoni in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Billings was part of the CSK squad during the 2018 season, a year when the team made a comeback after a two-year suspension and secured their third title.

In a surprising revelation, Billings mentioned that Dhoni has someone specifically assigned to manage the shisha, a waterpipe used for smoking flavored tobacco. This practice has been a common gathering point for players, with past stars like Irfan Pathan and Michael Hussey noting that Dhoni's hotel room often serves as a social hub.

Billings fondly recalled watching Manchester United matches with Dhoni, highlighting the camaraderie they shared. He noted that Dhoni's hotel room was always open for teammates, and he humorously referred to Khaleel, the person responsible for the shisha. “It has to be Dhoni. His captaincy and presence are remarkable. He remains incredibly calm and genuinely cool, which is rare these days. Despite his fame, he is a wonderful person. As a fellow Manchester United supporter, we enjoyed watching several games together. Since he can't go out, he keeps his room open and has Khaleel to take care of the shisha,” Billings shared during the 'Stick to Cricket' podcast, naming Dhoni as his favorite figure in franchise cricket.

Billings played for CSK from 2018 to 2019, participating in 11 matches and scoring a total of 108 runs. His standout performance came against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2018, where he scored 58 runs off just 23 balls while chasing a daunting target of 205 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, forming a crucial 54-run partnership with Dhoni during that match.