Dhoni's calmness rubbed off on me: Billings

The calmness of Mahendra Singh Dhoni is contagious, feels Chennai Super Kings' new hero Sam Billings, who was happy to have his skipper by his side during their successful chase in a high-scoring IPL encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Billings smashed 56 off 23 balls as CSK chased down a stiff target of 203 in their victorious homecoming. It was Billings' first chance to bat alongside Dhoni and their half-century partnership did go a long way in clinching a win for the team.

"It's about being composed and there's not a better person to have at the crease than Dhoni," Billings said at the post-match press conference.

"He (Dhoni) is so composed and calm. It's impossible for it not to kind of rub on to you. It was about building a partnership together," Billings' admiration for the former India captain was quite evident.

"I know it's a cliche but in T20 cricket, on an absolute belter, you can take time. You are in not in so much of a rush all the time. Actually you have got an opportunity to get yourself in, run hard and get ones and twos," Billings assessed his knock.

About what Dhoni said during the partnership, the Kent cricketer, said he did not really say much and it was a matter of running hard in order to minimize the dot balls.

"He didn't really say too much. It was a matter of running hard and minimizing the dot balls. He's very fast between the wickets and that's a key part especially against quality spin, it's a matter of rotating strike, not letting them settle so that was a huge part."
"We saw the passion of our fans during practice sessions. We had 10,000 people rock up for a practice game. It shows how much it means to people in this part of the world."