Chennai: The presence of top stumper and former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni enthralled executives of India Cements Ltd Friday with the swashbuckling cricketer taking part in the company’s board meeting here.
Dhoni took part in the board meeting and evinced keen interest on the company’s outlook and expansion plans for the financial year 2018-19. The meeting was to review the financial performance for the quarter and half year period ending 30 September 2018.
According to company officials, this is the first time Dhoni was taking part in the board meeting. Dhoni, captain of the city-based cement maker’s IPL-franchise Chennai Super Kings, holds the post of Vice-President Marketing, in India Cements Ltd.
“He is our greatest asset. He has already visited India Cements facilities – one in Banswara, Rajasthan and at Sankar Nagar (Tamilnadu),” company Vice-Chairman and managing director, N Srinivasan said. On his visit to the manufacturing facilities, Dhoni, clad in the company’s uniform, termed his visits to the manufacturing facilities “exciting.”
He said the visits helped him understand the process of cement manufacturing. Asked about his cricketing journey in CSK which won the title for the third time in May this year, he said, “I never knew, I will be part of CSK.”
On major challenges when the venue of a match gets shifted at the last minute, Dhoni said, “it will be the surface (which will be the most challenging part).” The IPL matches scheduled to be held in Chennai this year were shifted to another venue following protests by some Tamil outfits over the delay in formation of the Cauvery Management Board.
To another query whether he would take part in the investor’s conference, he shot back, “I will not. Those investors who had put in money will take part.” About his passion for motorcycles, Dhoni said he had 70 motorcycles, and a Kawasaki Ninja was one of his favourites. Dhoni also said since his house was 7-8 km from the stadium (in Ranchi) he would prefer to use a motorcycle to reach the venue considering the traffic. Asked how he avoided media glare, he said “I used to wear helmet.”