Former India captain MS Dhoni was expected to play for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 but due to Coronavirus outbreak, the BCCI was forced to suspend the 13th season for an indefinite time. But, Dhoni fans were always hopeful about their favourite star’s reappearance. And now it seems, their wish has come true as IPL is all set to return on September 19 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the final slated on November 8.
Last time, fans saw Dhoni on a cricket field was in the 2019 World Cup semifinal game against New Zealand. Since then, questions have been regularly raised over his future. However, now MSD is not far away to show his magic on the outfield again, and he has received backing from former India opener Gautam Gambhir as well.
Gambhir recently said that the Ranchi-born cricketer should continue playing if he thinks he can still win matches for India.
“Age is just a number; I think if you are in a very good form if you are hitting the ball really well. MS Dhoni, if he is hitting the ball really well, if he is very good form, if he is enjoying the game and if he thinks that he can still win the game for the country at that number – especially at six and seven,” Gambhir said in Star Sport show ‘Cricket Connected’.
“If he is in great fitness and form, he should continue playing because no one can actually force anyone to retire. A lot of experts can put a lot of pressure on people like MS Dhoni because of their Age and stuff, but again it’s an individual decision when you started playing cricket it was your individual decision,” he added.
The former Delhi player also spoke about the IPL which has been shifted to the UAE due to rising COVID cases in India.
“It does not matter where it goes, but if it goes to UAE, it’s a great venue to play cricket in any format, and most importantly I think it’s going to change the mood of the nation as well. It’s not about which franchise wins or which player scores runs or which guy takes a wicket; it’s simply changing the mood of the nation. So this IPL probably will be bigger than the rest of the IPLs because I think this is for the nation,” concluded Gambhir.
