The sting of a missed opportunity still fresh in his mind, Nashik Titans skipper Prashant Solanki is ready to make amends. After leading his side to the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) 2024 final , only to fall short against Ratnagiri Jets by 34 runs, Solanki is determined to clear the final hurdle — armed with wisdom from one of cricket's greatest leaders, MS Dhoni .
In an exclusive interaction with IANS, Solanki opened up about the emotional toll of that defeat and how he plans to channel the learnings from both the loss and his time with Chennai Super Kings into future success.
Solanki, a leg-spinner from Mumbai, joined Chennai Super Kings as a net bowler before being signed for INR 1.2 crore in 2022. Since then, he has earned valuable experience playing under Dhoni, who continues to influence his leadership style.
He credited Dhoni’s calmness and transparency in high-pressure situations as key takeaways:
Solanki also spoke passionately about the growing importance of state-level T20 leagues like the MPL in shaping careers and giving young players a platform to shine.
Players like Priyansh Arya and Arshin Kulkarni — Solanki’s own teammate — have used such tournaments as launchpads to IPL contracts and national recognition. Arshin, after a brilliant century in the inaugural MPL, was selected for the India U19 squad and later signed by Lucknow Super Giants .
With the next edition of the MPL around the corner, Solanki and the Titans are eager to turn heartbreak into triumph.