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Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s calf injury may have alerted Chennai Super Kings (CSK), but there is another solid reason for the 44-year-old former captain’s delay in returning to the field. Dressing room insiders say the delay is not just due to careful management of an aging player, but also the rise of 19-year-old Karthik Sharma, who has complicated the selection equation for the team management.

The story started a year ago, when CSK head coach Stephen Fleming was skeptical about the young players. When CSK’s batting style lagged behind other teams last season, Fleming termed it as a ‘very small sample size’. But within a few weeks he changed his mind. Along with names like Abhishek Sharma, Priyansh Arya and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Kartik Sharma was also in that list. CSK’s scouting team discovered him mid-season and immediately added him to their pool as a development player…ineligible for the auction, but too talented to ignore. A year later, Karthik is proving that scouting strategy to be brilliant.

From the streets of Bharatpur to the pitch of Guwahati

Karthik, who hails from Bharatpur, Rajasthan, is not the biggest or most powerful batsman in terms of height and physique. But he has one special quality, and he has built his entire life around it…the ability to hit the ball out of the park. At the Aravali Cricket Academy in Hathor on the outskirts of Jaipur, where he trained under the late Ranji Trophy winner Vivek Yadav (who passed away due to Covid- complications in 2021), the coaches soon recognized his ability to connect the ball long.

Range hitting immediately became a priority, says Jagsimran Singh, head coach of the academy. Over a few days, 500 to 700 balls against the machine, both pace and spin, with the same aim each time: to hit as many out of the park as possible. It is absolutely clear in his mind what he is working on: hitting sixes. To further this single-target practice, Karthik’s father installed a ball machine at their home in Bharatpur, so that the practice could continue even between academy sessions.

Mental preparation for the bet of Rs 14.2 crores

CSK bet Rs 14.2 crore on exactly this capability in the auction. The team knew that such a huge price tag would bring with it immense pressure. Therefore, he thoughtfully created a security circle and development framework around them. Australian mental-skills coach David Reid, who has extensive AFL and Big Bash League experience, was tasked with ensuring that the pressure of 50,000 spectators did not crush his talent. Breathing exercises, understanding anxiety and dealing with the fear of failure…were the focus of Reed’s off-field sessions.

The mental aspect is really very important, says Stephen Fleming. You’re sending players out in front of 35,000, 50,000 or 100,000 people. The mental aspect of staying calm and understanding what the mind and body are doing is still underutilized in competition. We teach them some mental skills that can help them perform as they hit the ball into the nets, but it is equally important to understand the nervousness, anxiety and fear of failure, especially if you have a price tag on your head.

Apart from Reid, there was also Dhoni himself. Just as he had molded Shivam Dubey into a dashing finisher, a pattern was established in CSK’s net sessions. Karthik was kept with the 44-year-old veteran for the sessions. Match situations were created, specific tasks assigned—which balls to take, which bowlers to target, which areas of the field to exploit. Dhoni stood by, watching, guiding. The initial plan was to use Karthik as a finisher, but after initial difficulties, CSK wisely moved him out of his comfort zone, his preferred position for Rajasthan, at No. 4.

return and explosion

His IPL debut came at No. 6 on a seaming pitch in Guwahati, where he scored 18 runs off 15 balls. He was dropped from the team after not performing well against Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Batting at No. 4 for Rajasthan in domestic cricket last season, his six-hitting style forced former England captain Kevin Pietersen to pause and ask on social media platform X: “Who is this?” CSK already knew the answer, and they were waiting patiently.

When he returned in the last week of April, he came straight to number 4. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was at the other end against Mumbai. Against Delhi, Sanju Samson got the support. In both the matches, he came under pressure, endured it, recognized his strengths and instead of being explosive, he moved forward thoughtfully. Result: 54 not out and 41 not out. Two successful target-chases.

Batting coach Mike Hussey is now seeing a player who can represent the yellow jersey of CSK for the coming decade. Hussey said, hopefully we will be able to see him in CSK for the next five to ten years. He has shown signs in the last few games that he is beginning to believe in himself that he can perform at this level, and now hopefully a little breakout game in the next few games will give him real confidence going forward.

With both Shivam Dubey and Dewald Brevis in form and considering the upcoming crunch matches, CSK need Karthik Sharma to find his feet. For now, Dhoni’s return can wait. The question is not when will Dhoni return, but whether this team is now playing for this 19-year-old sensation?

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