On Tuesday, the calmness of Mahendra Singh Dhoni is contagious, feels Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) new hero Sam Billings, who was happy to have his skipper by his side during their successful chase in a high-scoring Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Billings smashed 56 off 23 balls as CSK chased down a stiff target of 203 in their victorious homecoming. It was Billings' first chance to bat alongside Dhoni and their half-century partnership did go a long way in clinching a win for the team.
"It's about being composed and there's not a better person to have at the crease than Dhoni," Billings said at the post-match press conference. "He (Dhoni) is so composed and calm. It's impossible for it not to kind of rub on to you. It was about building a partnership together," Billings' admiration for the former India captain was quite evident.
About what Dhoni said during the partnership, the Kent cricketer, said he did not really say much and it was a matter of running hard in order to minimize the dot balls. It was first match for CSK at the Chepauk after serving two-year suspension for spot-fixing during the 2013 IPL. The match did mean a lot to the fans accepted Billings. KKR all-rounder Andre Russell tried to rationalize the defeat despite a big total posted by the team, courtesy an incredible knock of 36-ball-88 runs including 11 sixes and one fours.