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[Saba Sports News] MS Dhoni, renowned as one of India’s finest cricket captains with three ICC event victories during his tenure, maintains a simple and detached relationship with social media and his phone. Despite retiring from international cricket, he continues to shine in the Indian Premier League, leading the Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL title.
Known for his humility and unassuming demeanor, Dhoni, despite having millions of followers on various social media platforms, rarely posts updates. In a recent public appearance, he discussed the advantages of being disconnected from the digital world. Dhoni humorously mentioned that he primarily uses his phone at night to set an alarm for the morning.
“It helps a lot [being disconnected]. I have a phone but the only time I look for it is at night because I have to set the alarm for the morning. So, for me, my phone basically does the job of waking me up in the morning,” Dhoni shared.
“When you are playing for India or if you are a known personality, everyone has an opinion about you. Whatever you do, there will be an opinion about you. Some will say good things, while some will speak badly. As humans, if you are too much connected to social media or a mobile phone, you are spending too much time over there, you feel good or you feel bad. Sometimes, you know that there is no relevance to a comment but because we are humans, you still feel bad. So, especially before a tournament or when you’re going through a lean patch, I always advise the youngsters to stay away from mobile,” he added.
He also emphasized the potential downsides of being overly connected to social media, especially for public figures. Dhoni pointed out that people have varied opinions about those in the public eye, and while some comments may be positive, others can be negative. He advised young cricketers, particularly before tournaments or during tough times, to avoid excessive mobile phone and social media usage to maintain focus and mental well-being.
During the same event, when asked about the pressure of expectations before his retirement, Dhoni clarified that he had retired from international cricket but not from the IPL. This statement was met with a smile, and he acknowledged the passionate CSK fan base as a driving force behind his motivation to continue playing.
After winning the IPL 2023 with CSK, Dhoni expressed his intent to push his body for another season as a gesture of gratitude to his dedicated fans. Throughout the tournament, CSK enjoyed tremendous support even in away games, with Dhoni playing a significant role in creating this fervor.