How MS Dhoni Helped & Inspired Reigning World Chess Champion Gukesh

Indian chess grandmaster and reigning World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju is a massive fan of former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni.

The wicketkeeper-batter from Jharkhand has won every major title as a captain, and the way he handles pressure situations is something that inspires 18-year-old Gukesh.

“MS Dhoni is one sportsperson I really admire. To this day, he is the one. How he doesn’t react to anything that happens. How he is able to calmly think in any situation. In the highest-pressure moments, he is able to think with a clear mind. I grew up watching that. It felt like I had to emulate it in my own craft,” Gukesh said while addressing the media at Chepauk.

“In that sense, he really inspired me. I don’t react to things much. I am good at handling pressure. In that way, he has really helped me in my career. Not only as an inspiration but in my game as well.

“When there is a high-pressure moment, I tend to think about how Dhoni handled so much pressure in a particular situation. Those things have really helped me calm down.”

Recalling an old interview of MSD, Gukesh said, “Dhoni, I think, said in an interview: ‘Keep doing the simple things, keep the mind clear when the situation is very difficult.’ When facing tough situations in chess, I try to create that same calmness within myself.”

Dhoni, 43, is currently playing for CSK in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Dhoni will be in action against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Chepauk on March 28 (Friday).