MS Dhoni admitted that performance is an aspect that is not guaranteed, it wasn’t assured at 24 and neither it is assured at 40. However, he doesn’t want people to point fingers at his fitness and he wants to keep up with the younger members of the side.
It hasn’t been the best of times for MS Dhoni in the recent past. After retiring from international cricket in August 2020, all he has played is the 2020 season of the Indian Premier League. Even that season was by far his worst in the history of the IPL. He scored a mere 200 runs at an average of 25 and a strike-rate of 116.27.
The 2021 edition hasn’t started too well for him either. The Chennai Super Kings skipper has batted just twice in four games. In his first innings of the season, he chopped one on back onto his stumps off Avesh Khan. In CSK’s last match against Rajasthan Royals, Dhoni did take some time to get going and was one off six balls before he struck a couple of boundaries and was eventually out for 17-ball 18.
Dhoni did admit that the first six balls he faced could’ve cost the team quite a bit. However, he feels that performance is something that is not guaranteed. However, the former India skipper is looking fit and is pretty agile in the middle. When asked about his fitness, Dhoni admitted that he doesn’t want anyone to point fingers at his fitness.
“Getting old and being fit, those are two things that are difficult. It’s true but when you’re playing, you don’t really want anyone to say he’s unfit. Performance is something that is not guaranteed.
I was not guaranteeing performances when I was 24, I can’t guarantee when I am 40. At least, if people can’t point fingers at me, saying he’s unfit, that will be a big positive for me. I have to keep up with the younger guys. They run a lot, they are very fast, it’s good to challenge them,”
he was quoted saying in the post-match presentation after CSK’s win over RR.
CSK next face Kolkata Knight Riders on the 21st of April at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
