Eyeing a farewell game for Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni has indicated he is likely to continue playing for the franchise at the next year’s edition of the Indian Premier League.
Speculations have been rife around this matter for a while. Dhoni has chosen to keep his cards close to his chest. During the UAE leg of IPL 2021, he talked of how CSK’s retentions would depend heavily on the team’s needs over the next decade, and a preference would be given to only those individuals who can serve the franchise in the long run.
However, he never denied that he might not be around in the CSK colours next year, telling commentator Harsha Bhogle “still, I haven’t left behind” as he was asked to comment on his future at the end of the presentation ceremony following the win over Kolkata Knight Riders in the final on October 15.
Now, again, he left open all possibilities speaking at an event hosted by the CSK franchise to celebrate their fourth Premier League title.
“I have always planned my cricket. The last ODI that I played in India was in Ranchi. Hopefully my last T20 will be in Chennai. Whether it’s next year or in five years’ time, I don’t know,”
Dhoni said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Dhoni’s future with CSK has been a topic of debate. With teams allowed to retain a maximum of four players for the 10-team event in 2022, and Dhoni approaching his forties, many feel it would be a huge risk to go by the emotions and shed out significant money in keeping him at the expense of a player who may play an important role for CSK going forward.
CSK’s owner N Srinivasan had hinted that they’ll find a way to keep Dhoni involved in some capacity with the franchise, even if he is not there on the playing field anymore.
Dhoni, who retired from international cricket back in August 2020 – a year after his last India outing in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup – has been on a decline with his game. Since the start of IPL 2020, he has made only 314 runs from his 30 games with a strike-rate of 112.54.
But the man’s captaincy credentials and its impact still stay very much intact. Dhoni is still outstanding with his on-field leadership and tactics that have led CSK to four IPL trophies. The team has made the playoffs in all seasons of IPL, barring 2020, when they won 6 of their 14 league games.
Over the years, Dhoni’s association with CSK has gained legendary proportions. The man from Ranchi has been closely linked with not just the team CSK but also the brand that the side has managed to build for itself with him around, as well as the passionate city of Chennai.
“The association started in 2008 when it comes to IPL, but it started before that when it came to play some of the other formats. One of the most memorable being my Test debut, you know, which happened is in Chennai.”
“I think I never knew that I’ll be picked by CSK, I was in the auction and I got picked and it gave me an opportunity to understand the culture, which was very different from where I actually came from.”
he said.
Lastly, Dhoni stressed how CSK’s turnaround from a disastrous run in the 2020 edition to being champions again in 2021 shows the franchise and its players’ character as they fought the odds and eventually came out on top.
