Gujarat Titans spinner Sai Kishore has given due credit to Chennai Super Kings for shaping him as a bowler. Kishore has maintained his form in the IPL 2025, which he had in Tamil Nadu’s domestic cricket matches.

Sai Kishore held his own game during the early parts of the tournament this season and took 14 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 17.64. Kishore spent two years with CSK, but didn’t have any chance to play there. 

Speaking exclusively on Star Sports Press Room around the ‘Race to Play-offs’, the GT spinner said that his time with Chennai felt like an internship and those two years were really valuable for him.

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“Yeah, CSK played a huge role in shaping me. It felt like two years of internship! CSK was the first team that picked me at the auction from Mushtaq Ali. Those two years were really valuable. I learned a lot, I used to constantly ask questions about how to handle different situations. But honestly, you only truly learn when you play. You can have all these theories in your head, but it sticks only when you experience it on the field,” said Kishore.

MS Dhoni’s Significance

Kishore credits MS Dhoni as a significant influence, immediately recalling the former captain’s name when discussing impactful figures. The left-arm spinner explained that Dhoni’s leadership and composed demeanor profoundly shaped his early understanding and approach to the sport.

“I can’t look past MS Dhoni the influence he’s had on me has been huge. The way he led the team, the calmness with which he approached different situations that’s really shaped the way I see the game and the way I operate,” said Kishore.

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Kishore said that his next big influences have been GT coach Ashish Nehra and R Ashwin.

“Another big influence is Ashu pa (our coach). The way he handles the team, it’s unique it’s not common for a coach to have such a calm and controlled presence. And then there’s Ashubhai (Ravichandran Ashwin), who’s also made a great impact on me. So, I’d say MS Dhoni and Ashubhai are the two people who have really shaped my cricket,” said Kishore.