Fan of Thala? Celebrate. MS Dhoni is here to stay, at least for the time being. As he silently vanished in the CSK dressing room without shaking hands, there was speculation that the devastating loss of the Chennai Super Kings to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru was Dhoni’s final game. After the match, Dhoni was missing for a while, and the first picture of him that surfaced showed him getting ready to leave Bengaluru for Ranchi. After landing at his hometown, the former captain of CSK gave rise to rumours that he was retiring. However, if the most recent events are accurate, there might still be petrol in the tank.
Dhoni has reportedly not yet informed the CSK management of his intention to retire. Although MSD hasn’t made any promises just yet, some in the know think he needs more time to decide what steps to take next. A claim surfaced in the meantime stating that Dhoni was playing IPL 2024 for CSK while suffering from a muscle rupture. Consequently, he was batting lower and only having to face a specific amount of deliveries. However, in recent times, the legend appeared at ease and showed no signs of struggle either batting or keeping wicket.
“Dhoni has not told anybody in CSK that he is quitting. He has told the management that he will wait for a couple of months before taking a final call,” news agency quoted a source as saying. “He did not feel any discomfort in running between the wickets, which is a plus. We will wait for Dhoni’s communication. He always has the best interests of the team in mind; let’s see what happens.”
The world watched Dhoni bat at his best in the IPL 2024, a long time. The 42-year-old represented CSK in every league game, and although having little opportunity to bat, MSD made sure his powerful strokes mesmerised the crowd. With a strike rate of 220.5 and an average of 53.67, Dhoni scored 161 runs in 14 games. His last-over onslaught against Delhi Capitals, when he took Anrich Nortje for 32 runs, including four sixes, and his knocks against Mumbai Indians, where he scored 20 off four balls in the final over, were reminiscent of Dhoni’s earlier days. It’s unquestionably proof that Dhoni still has it.
Dhoni’s IPL return for ‘at least one more season’ was a fan-driven decision, as it might have been his ideal farewell to the IPL. You never know, though, Dhoni being Dhoni. This is a man who, to everyone’s surprise, declared his retirement from Test cricket. Then, on India’s Independence Day six years later, he wrote something that went viral on the internet: “From 1929 hrs, consider me as retired.” In a similar vein, Dhoni passed the team’s leadership to Ruturaj Gaikwad shortly before the IPL began this year, sticking to his habit of surprising the spectators with unexpected moves.
In comparison to this year, Dhoni will be a year older and the physical challenges would be slightly more tiresome if he decides to call it quits for good. Dhoni doesn’t appear a year older than thirty, thus the man is in good shape, but it would take an additional two to three months of intensive drills and intense training. You never know; Dhoni might have played his final game for CSK. You can be sure that it will be a low-key event as Dhoni rides out into the sunset. Whether IPL 2025 ends in two months or a year is a possibility.
