Defending Champions Chennai Super Kings will begin their IPL campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on March 22. MS Dhoni would look to recreate his magic in the cash rich T20 league after guiding the Super Kings to their elusive 5th title last season. In 2023 MS Dhoni managed 104 runs from 8 innings at an strike rate of 182.46 including 10 sixes. During the season he also completed 5000 runs in IPL.
Joint-top with Mumbai Indians in terms of most IPL titles, CSK would love to defend their crown and become the first team to win the tournament six times. MS Dhoni is the only Indian cricket team captain to win the T20 World Cup, the ODI World Cup and the Champions Trophy too. Under MS Dhoni, India became the world No. 1 Test side also. While MS Dhoni has retired from international cricket, he still competes in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings. He led his team to the title in the IPL 2023 and will aim to emulate the feat again this year.
MS Dhoni is so passionate and he wants to be there- Anil Kumble
Even though MS Dhoni is embracing the twilight phase of his trophy-laden T20 career, legendary Indian cricketer Anil Kumble won’t be surprised if the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon opts to play for another season in the Indian Premier League (IPL). CSK’s charismatic leader, MS Dhoni, landed in Chennai for the 2024 edition of the IPL last week. MS Dhoni’s grand entry in Chennai managed to break the internet before the start of the new season.
Drawing parallels between Dhoni and Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, spin-bowling icon Kumble recalled working with the CSK skipper. Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Kumble never played IPL cricket with Dhoni, but the former India skipper shared the MI locker room with the Little Master. Kumble was Team India’s coach when Dhoni led the Men In Blue from the front. The former India captain also worked as a mentor with Tendulkar’s MI franchise.
Anil Kumble’s reaction came amidst rumors that MS Dhoni will retire at the end of 2024 season. The Former India head coach said on Jio Cinema :
“I never played with MS in the IPL. When I played with him in the Indian team, he was the first one to lift me up. I guess he was the strongest of the lot to lift a heavyweight. It was a fantastic moment for me.
“I remember, when I was coach and he was the captain, we were in Ranchi for a one-day game, for an optional practice session, he didn’t need to come as Ranchi is his hometown. But he was there for the session. I said, ‘What are you doing? We still have a couple of days before the next game.’ He said, ‘No, I just want to be around.’ That’s him.
He continued :
“Sachin was the same. When I was with Mumbai Indians, Sachin had played around 25 or 26 years of cricket. But on optional days, he’d be the first one to be on the bus. These two guys, I don’t think can take a break.
“I won’t be surprised if MS continues to play for CSK, because that’s his optional session. He’s so passionate, he wants to be there.”
Nicknamed Jumbo, Kumble guided RCB to the IPL final in 2009. Kumble was roped in by Tendulkar’s Mumbai Indians as the Chief Mentor of the franchise in 2013. Kumble spent three years in Mumbai as the mentor of the five-time champions. In his first year at Mumbai, the Men In Blue won the IPL title and the Champions League in 2013. Mumbai were also crowned IPL champions in 2015.