MS Dhoni eyeing a big IPL records with match vs Gujarat Titans; will join an elite list of IPL batters

The wait is over, and we are just a few hours away from the much-awaited 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League. Its first game will feature two teams that had contrasting performances in 2022. It is a clash between the Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans at 7:30 p.m. at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Gujarat will defend their title this season, while CSK has a lot to prove after a disappointing performance in 2022. They finished ninth with only four wins in the entire season. But they have a really good chance now with some brilliant additions to the team.

And most importantly, MS Dhoni will be back as a full-time captain. This season will see every team play games on their home field as well, which means fans will witness Thala Dhoni playing in front of them.

Not just that, Dhoni is also looking to set a big record when he comes to bat in the first game on Friday against the Gujarat Titans. The CSK skipper has been part of the league since 2008 and has been one of the most successful captains of all time.

He has played 234 IPL matches in his career and scored 4978 runs at a decent average of 39.19 and a strike rate of 135.19. He has also scored 24 half-centuries with a best of 84 not out and just needs 22 more runs to complete 5000 IPL runs in his career. Notably, he is currently the seventh highest run scorer in the tournament.

If he makes another 22 runs, he will join an elite list that includes Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, and AB de Villiers. The top two positions are held by Virat Kohli (6624 runs) and Shikhar Dhawan (6244 runs).

Although there is some doubt over his participation in the first game. Some media reports confirmed that Dhoni is not well and might miss the season's opener against GT. But there has not been any official confirmation, so we might see him make his comeback to the game on Friday.