Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram reckons that MS Dhoni will bid adieu to all forms of cricket after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were knocked out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoff race. Akram feels that at 42, MS Dhoni is unlikely to continue playing as it takes a toll to maintain fitness standards for the entire year to play just two months of cricket. He, however, backed the legendary player to make his own call.
The most capped player in the history of the cash-riched league IPL, former Indian skipper MS Dhoni was touted once again to marshal his troops in Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) bid to defend the title only to change when Ruturaj Gaikwad took over the mantle from the legend. The Yellow Brigade edged past 2022 champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final-ball thriller to lift the famous trophy for the record-equaling fifth time last season.
MS Dhoni a nationwide rage during IPL 2023 playing for Chennai Super Kings
“CSK is Dhoni. Dhoni is CSK” Chennai Super Kings local boy now which hails from Ranchi. MS Dhoni is the only player to record 250 appearances in the cash-rich league. The 42-year-old has amassed 5082 runs with an average of 38.79. Thala Dhoni has smashed 24 half-centuries in his iconic IPL career. Under MS Dhoni’s talismanic captainship many youngsters got groomed from 2008 to 2023 who later went on to be part of Indian national team playing 11.
The advice to the youngsters of each team after the match from MS Dhoni is as value as of gold for upcoming talents who wait even if their teams wains or looses only to meet MS Dhoni. Year 2023 saw a nationwide rage with speculations around that finally it would be curtains for MS Dhoni the player in IPL as fans flocked to every venue in yellow to support MS Dhoni.
This overwhelmed support from the fans all round compelled MS Dhoni to return back to play for season 2024 only for the fans as stated by him in the presentation of the finals of 2023 where CSK won the title equaling Mumbai Indians(MI) tally of 5 IPL titles.
All said and done MS Dhoni who was seeing limping all round throughout IPL season 2023, to go back and have a knee surgery to be more fitter for at-least one more season
MS Dhoni’s IPL season in 2024
A section of fans wondered if MS Dhoni had played his last match for CSK on Saturday, May 18 and whether his IPL career ended in a heartbreak. Dhoni’s valiant effort of 25 off 13 balls was not enough as the Super Kings crashed out of the playoffs race after losing to RCB by 27 runs in their must-win IPL 2024 match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Dhoni hit a 110m-six when CSK needed 17 runs in the last over bowled by Yash Dayal. Dhoni was not able to control his emotions as he was seen angry after getting out in the second delivery of the final over. Dhoni punched his bat while walking back to the dugout and was seen tensed in the dugout even as Yash Dayal completed a terrific final over and sealed the deal for RCB.
MS Dhoni was seen walking off the field after the customary post-match handshake as the disappointment on his face was visible after having missed a golden opportunity to seal another famous win for the Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Quite a few fans urged MS Dhoni not to retire after the heartbreaking defeat and urged the 42-year-old to continue playing in the IPL for at least one more year. A section of fans also pointed out that MS Dhoni’s international career also ended in heartbreak as India lost the ODI World Cup semi-final in 2019 to New Zealand after a fifty from the veteran wicketkeeper-batter. While Dhoni did not announce retirement after the match, he confirmed the end of his international career on August 15, 2020 in a famous Instagram post.
MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja came up with valiant efforts with the bat after CSK were reduced to 129 for 6 in the 15th over. Barring Rachin Ravindra (61) and Ajinkya Rahane (33), none of the other CSK batters were able to get going after RCB posted a mammoth total of 218 in 20 overs.
CSK needed 201 to reach the playoffs as the result did not matter for the 5-time champions. However, RCB did wonderfully well to restrict CSK to 191 for 7 in 20 overs. Jadeja remained unbeaten on 42 off 22, but his effort was not enough. If MS Dhoni announces retirement in the near future, he will end his IPL career as the joint-most successful captain. He would finish with 5243 runs in 264 matches and as the most successful captain in terms of win percentage, having led 226 times in the T20 league.
Dhoni famously said at the end of the 2020 season that he was ‘definitely not’ going to retire from the IPL. Dhoni conceded the title triumph in 2023 was probably the best time to call time on his IPL career, but he wanted to play more as a ‘return gift’ to his fans nationwide. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram reckons that MS Dhoni will bid adieu to all forms of cricket after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were knocked out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoff race.
“I have a gut feeling, he’ll be done after this” – Wasim Akram on MS Dhoni’s future after CSK knocked out of IPL 2024 playoffs
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram reckons that MS Dhoni will bid adieu to all forms of cricket after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were knocked out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoff race. Akram feels that at 42, Dhoni is unlikely to continue playing as it takes a toll to maintain fitness standards for the entire year to play just two months of cricket. He, however, backed the legendary player to make his own call.
Akram was also quite vocal about Dhoni’s legacy. The 57-year-old said the biggest six of IPL 2024 (110-meter six) will only be a glimpse of his legendary career.
Akram told Sportskeeda’s ‘Match Ki Baat’:
“[On MS Dhoni’s future] I have a gut feeling, he’ll be done after this. Players like him come in a lifetime, it all depends on him.”
He continued:
“[On Memorable six] His legacy is not just that [110m] six, it’s something else. He’s done a lot for Indian cricket. He brought the mindset. As a captain, he brought calmness, played captaincy knocks, the way he became a finisher, the way he has groomed players, and showed consistency, so this will be his legacy.
“But, yes, for fans the last image will be that 110-metre six at his age, it’s incredible fitness. It will only be a glimpse of his legacy.”
As a player, Dhoni has 5243 runs in 264 IPL matches, including 24 half-centuries. He has led the Super Kings to five IPL trophies and CSK hopes in IPL 2025 MS Dhoni gives fans some news to cherish.