There are still so many things that contain the doubt of whether MS Dhoni will step on the pitch for another season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Dhoni’s close friend as well as former teammate Suresh Raina wishes this legend could guide Ruturaj Gaikwad for one more season to learn the tricks of captaincy from him.
Gaikwad was named as the new captain of CSK by Dhoni before IPL 2024.
This year, Raina spoke to ‘Sports Tak’, Dhoni’s last year performance in the IPL match confirmed that he is not done playing competitive cricket yet as there rest some gas in the tank.
“I want MS Dhoni to stand in 2025 and play IPL, making the reviews of his father how he batted in the last season. I sense Ruturaj Gaikwad needs one more year, that is the way he captured and many critics were after the sign said on the defeat against RCB, and what Ruturaj has performed is simply amazing.” Raina made this comments sitting in Indian and International retirement with effect from August 15, 2020 only ‘a few hours’ later than MSD made his announcement.
Though Raina also quit the IPL, Dhoni continues to play cricket.
Last season IPL, Dhoni, who was already coping with some knee injuries, went down the order to act as a finisher playing some quick fiery innings. In 14 matches he was able to make 161 runs and on a strike rate of 220.25.
A mega players’ auction is supposed to take place ahead of the season of 2025, there is an IPL for which, as of now, Dhoni is biting his fingers to wait & watch as to when the auction rules concerning player retention are relayed as then he will wear his heart on his sleeve as to whether he would still love to play or say goodbye to this tournament forever.
“Number of options you have to see their final decision on player retention ie, some of the other options… So once the when the policies and regulations are standardised, I have come out with a decision, but it has to be in favour of the factor, that is CSK, that I would like to believe in,” Dhoni had stated previously.
