MS Dhoni, the 41-year-old captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has made a remarkable start to the IPL 2023 season. The former India international has hit six sixes in just four games, leaving the local Chennai crowd in awe.
Despite his impressive performance, the question of whether he will retire after the tournament remains unanswered.
Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020, after not playing in the sport since the 2019 World Cup. However, he has continued to play in the IPL, leading CSK as usual. Since his retirement, Dhoni has led CSK to an IPL title in 2021, with two forgettable seasons in 2020 and 2022.
In the last two years, Dhoni struggled with the bat for CSK. However, in IPL 2023, he has emerged as a finisher, striking at over 200 and playing a vital role down the order in a strong CSK batting line-up. His performances have led to speculation about his potential retirement, but he’s yet to make a decision.
At a promotional event, a fan asked Dhoni about his retirement plans from the IPL. The CSK captain answered the question in his typical style, without giving any indication of his decision. He stated, “There is lots of time to take that call. Right now, we have lots of games, and the coach will be under pressure if I say something,” to the delight of the crowd.
In IPL 2022, Dhoni handed over the CSK captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja. However, after a poor start to the season, Jadeja returned the reins to Dhoni as their succession plan failed.
Amid retirement rumours, Dhoni’s exceptional performance in IPL 2023 has shown that he still has plenty of cricket left in him. With CSK looking to win their fifth IPL title, Dhoni’s experience and leadership will be essential to the team. Only time will tell when the legendary cricketer will decide to call it a day.
