A lesson from MS Dhoni to aspiring cricketers in Canada

Aspiring cricketers in Canada who want to play at the top level of the sport need to be able to handle the nerves that come with competing among the best.

That’s according to professional cricketer Calvin Savage, who received this piece of advice from Indian cricketing legend MS Dhoni.

“One of the best pieces of advice I received — something MS Dhoni has told many players — is that nerves are the price of attendance. Everyone sees Dhoni as incredibly calm, but behind the scenes he’s just as nervous as the rest of us. That’s the reality. If you want to play at that level, nerves are simply the price of admittance. It is what it is.”

Both Savage and Dhoni are part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Twenty20 franchise: while Dhoni plays for the CSK outfit in the Indian Premier League, Savage is a player and coach for the Texas Super Kings, which players in Major League Cricket, the highest form of professional cricket in the US. The CSK franchise also runs a team in South Africa’s Twenty20 tournament – the SA20 – called the Joburg Super Kings.

The impact of mental health professionals

Many sports teams now employ mental health professionals to help elite athletes deal with nerves, and Savage says that there is no stigma in going to see such specialists. 

“To be honest, one of the biggest influences has been the psychologist we have within the Super Kings franchise,” said Savage. “He works with the SA20 players, the Major League Cricket players, and the IPL players, and he’s had some great sessions with us. He always reminds us of the basics — you can’t control what has already happened, and you can’t control what’s going to happen in the future. All you can focus on is what’s happening right now. It sounds simple, but it’s not easy to practise.

“He also taught us a few breathing techniques that help bring down anxiety,” he added. “They really help quiet the mind and stop you from worrying about what might happen or what has already happened — because you can’t change or control any of that.”

Twenty20 a great way to extend careers

32-year-old Savage features as an all-rounder for the Texas Super Kings, after playing 11 years of first-class cricket in South Africa and featuring for his country’s under-19 national team. He credits Twenty20 cricket with providing him remunerative opportunities to earn more from the sport and secure his financial future.

“There was a real turning point in my life back in 2023, when the Super Kings drafted me for the inaugural season of Major League Cricket,” he said. “I’ve been with them ever since, and it was one of the best things that happened in my career — especially because it came toward the latter part of my playing journey. I’ve been grateful ever since. The organization is very family-oriented, very loyal, and they look after their people.

He added: “They opened doors for me, and now they’re opening doors for so many others across North America, creating opportunities in cricket — a sport that’s still a minority sport here but is slowly growing into the mainstream in both the US and Canada. As long as we keep bringing in the kids, making sure they’re enjoying the game, and teaching them the right things, cricket is only going to go in one direction — and that’s upward.”