'Perfect replacement for Dhoni, CSK fan base increased since his arrival'

MUMBAI: Former South African player AB de Villiers believes Sanju Samson is the rightful successor to MS Dhoni in Chennai Super Kings (CSK). De Villiers said during a discussion that Dhoni was eagerly searching for a replacement for all these years.

“MS Dhoni should bat in the front row in IPL matches. Dhoni has been batting at number eight and number nine for the last few seasons. When you hear the Chennai Super Kings team, the first thing that comes to mind is Dhoni. The CSK brand is built around him.

Fans want to see Dhoni on the field as much as possible. Even if he doesn't bat at the top of the order in every match, I think Dhoni should bat at number four or five in crucial matches. Sanju is the right person to replace Dhoni,” said De Villiers.

Meanwhile, former Indian captain and coach Anil Kumble also had his share of opinion about Sanju’s new role in CSK.

“Sanju is coming into the IPL in great form. He won the World Cup for India with three consecutive brilliant innings. This will help the franchise's fan base increase further. Sanju is a perfect player for Chennai. He was born in Kerala. He speaks Tamil well. He is a wicket-keeping batter like MS Dhoni. Sanju's wealth of experience will also be crucial for Chennai Super Kings," said Kumble