With the forme r Indian and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni reaching the twilight of his cricketing career, there have been speculations that it could be his last IPL. Just ahead of the 2024 season of IPL, he sent shockwaves with stepping down from CSK captaincy and Ruturaj Gaikwad replacing him at the helm.
With this big change in the CSK lineup, it has evolved talks with the decision being a tactical one. Speaking with Star Sports, former Indian Head Coach Ravi Shastri shared his insights on why MS Dhoni took this big call this season, adding that it is MS Dhoni’s last season.
“This is MS Dhoni’s last season okay, very clear. You know, it depends on how his body copes with everything, whether he plays the whole season or doesn’t play the whole season, only time will tell,” the former India cricketer said during his one-on-one interaction with Star Sports.
“But what he has done is that he said, I [Dhoni] don’t want to give the job to Ruturaj halfway through the tournament. Be in the host seat from the outside, I am watching from the back, if he needs some help, I’m there to help him out. But I [Shastri] think as compared to the year when Jadeja was captain, MS Dhoni will take more and more of the backseat and probably contribute just in a little way between the drinks break of something like that,” Ravi Shastri added.
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The stalwart of the game, MS Dhoni has been one of the most successful captains in IPL, having won five titles and equalling Rohit Sharma’s record with MI. The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led CSK are currently at the top of the points table with two wins from two games in IPL 2024.