Chennai Super Kings‘ assistant bowling coach Sridharan Sriram has credited MS Dhoni for playing a key role in helping young spinner Noor Ahmad regain his rhythm in IPL 2026. After a difficult start to the season, Noor bounced back with a match-winning spell against Kolkata Knight Riders, underlining the importance of guidance and experience within the CSK setup.
Noor Ahmed bounces back with match-winning spell
Noor is a crucial player in CSK’s lineup in IPL 2026. However, his poor form at the start of the season had raised concerns for the five-time champions. The young Afghan spinner initially struggled with his length and failed to pick up wickets in the early matches. He was also expensive in games, notably against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where opposition batters targeted him effectively.
The lack of control and inconsistency meant CSK were missing a key wicket-taking option in the middle overs. But Noor turned things around in spectacular fashion during the clash against the Knight Riders on Tuesday. He delivered a brilliant spell of 3/21 in his four overs, playing a decisive role in CSK’s 32-run victory. His variations, improved control, and ability to extract turn made life difficult for KKR batters. The performance not only helped CSK secure a crucial win but also earned Noor the Player of the Match award, marking a strong comeback after a shaky start.
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How MS Dhoni’s advice proves decisive for Noor?
Speaking after the match, CSK assistant bowling coach Sridharan revealed that Dhoni’s inputs were instrumental in Noor’s resurgence. He further highlighted Dhoni’s involvement in Noor’s improvement, revealing that the veteran wicketkeeper-batter had spent time with the youngster during practice sessions.
“It was good. The wicket helped today. There was a little bit of turn for him. The other wickets are quite flat, but today it was a little slower through the air. There was more side spin on the ball and more drop. That is something he has been working on. Even MS had a long chat with him in one of the practice sessions, especially about getting his leg-break going. I think it was very helpful today and the results were there to see,” said Sridharan in the post-match presser.
Notably, CSK are beginning to find their rhythm after a shaky start to the IPL 2026 season. While the batting unit has shown glimpses of brilliance, the bowling department initially struggled to maintain consistency. However, the comprehensive win against the Knight Riders at Chepauk has injected fresh confidence into the squad. Noor’s return to form has been one of the biggest positives for the team.
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