- By Ankit Bisht
- Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:14 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will get underway with the clash between defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). But more than the buzz over the cash-rich event, social media is filled with the speculations of wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni, who had announced that he will play the next season for his fans.
Former India captain has kept his promise and started preparations for the high-octane league at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The 42-year-old, who only plays in IPL since announcing his retirement in August 2020, had undergone knee surgery last year and will be playing for the first time in a competitive match in the franchise-based T20 pinnacle.
Keeping Dhoni's age and behind the stumps work in mind, many social media users have started anticipating that this IPL season will be his last. In the last edition of the tournament, the legendary captain steered his side to a record-equalling fifth title.
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Amid all the fuss on the veteran's retirement, Dhoni's former CSK teammate Robin Uthappa claimed that the franchise will go to any extent to continue him playing in the yellow jersey. He asserted that even if Dhoni was in a wheelchair, the CSK would urge him to just bat and return to the dugout.
"CSK would let him play even if he was on a wheelchair! Get off from the wheelchair, bat, and then go back. But I don’t think the batting is the issue for him, I don’t think batting will ever be an issue for him," said JioCinema expert Uthappa on what will prompt Dhoni to retire.
Former India wicketkeeper-batter feels that glove work will be the only issue for Dhoni in his early 40s.
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"I think it’s the wicketkeeping. The knees are getting worn out and he loves keeping. So, because he won’t be able to stand there and add value, he’ll probably move on from the game than for any other reason," he added.
On Dhoni's potential IPL retirement, former England World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan said he believes in writing his own scripts and will surely make the announcement if something hinders him from playing further.
"He’s the type of guy that writes his own script. It’s a feeling thing, most likely for him. If his knees are as bad as Robbie eludes, time is probably ticking because he wouldn’t want to outstay the position that he has put the franchise in simply because he’ll always want the franchise to succeed. He’s so generous with his time, with his respect, he’ll want somebody to come in and take over the mantle," Morgan said.