Captaincy ‘affected’ Jadeja’s mind, says MS Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels the demand and pressure of captaincy negatively affected Ravindra Jadeja and impacted the all-rounder’s psyche, bringing about his less than impressive trip in Chennai Super Kings tones in the ongoing IPL.

Jadeja was appointed as CSK captain for the ongoing season after Dhoni chose to move to one side yet the all-rounder neglected to adapt to the pressure and at last relinquished the role, constraining the franchise to return to their most confided in lieutenant.

Back in charge of issues, Dhoni delivered moment results as CSK indented up a 13-run win upon Sunrisers Hyderabad to keep themselves above water in the competition.

“I think Jadeja knew last season he’d be captaining this year. For the first two games, I oversaw his work and let him be later. After that, I insisted he’d take his own decisions and responsibility for them.

“Once you become captain, it means a lot of demands come in. But it affected his mind as the tasks grew. I think captaincy burdened his prep and performances,” Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Dhoni said Jadeja assuming control over the mantle of the side was a progressive change, which he needed.

“He knew and got enough time to prepare, what is important is you want him to lead the side and I wanted that transition to happen. At the end of the season, you don’t want him to feel as the captaincy was done by someone else and I’m just going for toss.

“So it was a gradual transition. Spoon-feeding doesn’t really help captain, on the field you have to take those crucial decisions and you have to take responsibility for those decisions.

“Once you become the captain, we have to take care of lot many things and that also includes your own game,” he said.

Dhoni trusted Jadeja would reignite as a player in the wake of being liberated of the captaincy pressure.

“Even if you relieve captainship and if you are at your best and that’s what we want. We were also losing a great fielder, we are struggling for a deep mid-wicket fielder, still we have dropped 17-18 catches and that’s a matter of concern.

“These are tough games and hopefully we will comeback strong, important to communicate with the bowlers,” he said.