Dhoni asked me to bowl a bit fuller: Mahesh

Dhoni always has a plan: Mahesh

I gradually gained confidence bowling in the death overs: Mahesh

Former Indian captain MS Dhoni has always been adept at making the best use of the limited resources available to him. Sri Lankan spinner Mahesh Theekshana playing a key role in the success of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise over the last few years is one such example of this. “I have learned a lot of things from MS Dhoni, but in particular, how he helped me bowl to batters who would employ the sweep shot against me. With my action, I would bowl quicker, but they would still hit boundaries. He asked me to bowl a bit fuller. That’s also how I developed my yorker. I gradually gained confidence bowling in the death overs. Dhoni always has a plan. But he goes to the bowler’s plan first and only if it does not work, does he guide you,” Theekshana said in an interaction with Sony Sports ahead of the first T-20 between India and Sri Lanka. 

Theekshana also thanked Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis for playing a crucial role in his formative years. “Mendis could bowl googly, off-spin, carrom ball, everything; and he was the first to bring all of this to the international arena. I got lucky to have him as the head coach in college and later when I was part of the Army team at U23. That’s where I got a chance to gain all the knowledge about spin from him,” Theekshana added.

Also Read: Dhoni always said, ‘Your greatest strength is to try new things’: R. Ashwin

 Ajantha was a sensation in the early part of his career and had played a crucial role in Sri Lanka winning the Asia Cup in 2008. Batsmen however learnt to read his deliveries off his hand subsequently.