Chennai: Veteran Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden said former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is currently leading Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing season of Indian Premier League, is not just a player but an era of cricket.
Under Dhoni's captaincy, CSK has reached IPL finals eighth time in ten seasons that they have played.
The Yellow Brigade will square-off against Mumbai Indians, who are also a three-time IPL champion, in this year's summit clash and praising the CSK skipper, his former teammate and Australian great has termed Dhoni as "not just a player, he is an era of cricket".
Speaking on a special programme for CSK -- 'The Super Kings Show', the former team opener said: "You know Dhoni, he is not just a player, he is an era of cricket. In many ways I think MS is like the captain of the gully cricket team, he is one of us, he will do anything."
Talking on the temperament of the veteran, Hayden said: "You see how he warms up, he bowls his leg spinners, he catches, he asks players and people around the squad on how they are doing and he is so relaxed, I think we can all relate to him because we all have busy lives working around with friends and families and that's a big commitment.
"So, someone like that at the helm will make you feel calm, will make you feel relaxed and that's why Thala Dhoni that word ‘Thala', obviously meaning the leader of Chennai, but you it's almost like leader of a nation."
With an average of 103.5, the Chennai skipper is so far the leading run-scorer for his side after accumulating 414 runs from 11 innings.
His side was second in the league points-table with nine wins from 14 games but CSK went down against Mumbai in the first Qualifier at their home and later defeated Delhi Capitals by six wickets in the second qualifier on Friday to enter their eighth IPL final.
