This season of IPL 2024 has been full of ups and downs for former Chennai Super Kings team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. His team CSK could not qualify for the playoffs due to poor net run rate. He had to be ruled out after facing defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the last match.
Mahi will turn 43 on July 7 this year
Amidst all this, one issue is much discussed among the fans and that is Dhoni's retirement. Actually, Mahi will turn 43 on July 7 this year. But looking at Dhoni no one can say that he is that old. Even in this season, Dhoni has been seen hitting fours and sixes on the field. In his last match, he played a brilliant inning of 25 runs in 13 balls against RCB. During this, he hit 1 six and 3 fours. During this, he also hit the longest six of the season i.e. 110 meters. That is, it is clear that his bat still has the same edge which has given Chennai Super Kings 5 titles. On the basis of this, he has made the Indian team win the 2007 T20 and 2011 ODI World Cup.
Dhoni has grown old, this truth has to be accepted
Dhoni was seen struggling with a knee injury in the last season i.e. 2023. He was also seen limping several times during the match. Last season itself, after the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Dhoni had also hinted at retirement. He said that he has grown old now and can no longer run away from this truth. After that match, Dhoni said, 'Whatever may have been said or happened, but this is the last phase of my career. They (fans) gave me a lot of love. Only after this statement, speculations started that Dhoni would retire. But this did not happen. Dhoni has now played the 2024 season and looks fit.
This time again Dhoni hinted at retirement
Dhoni played the last match of this IPL 2024 season on 12 May in his home ground i.e. Chennai. In this match also Rajasthan Royals lost by 5 wickets. Something happened before and after this match due to which Mahendra Singh Dhoni's fans became a little disappointed. In this match played in Chepauk, two such incidents happened which intensified the speculations about Dhoni's retirement. First of all, before the toss in the match, CSK franchise made a special appeal on social media, after which the speculations about Dhoni's retirement first started. While sharing the post, the franchise said that after the match is over, the spectators should stay in the stadium because something special is going to happen after the match. Fans may be surprised. After this post, fans started speculating that something is going to happen to Dhoni after the match. Some fans said he would cry after the match.
Dhoni also did 'Lap of Honor' on the field
But after defeating Rajasthan, a different scene was seen. Dhoni and all the players and staff of the Chennai team took a 'lap of honour' i.e. circling the stadium. Meanwhile, Dhoni gave yellow balls to the fans as a return gift. Before the felicitation ceremony, all the players including Dhoni were honored with gold medals. Along with all this, Dhoni was also given 'Guard of Honor' by his teammates. All these things have increased the speculations in the minds of fans about Dhoni's retirement. However, till now no such official statement has come from Chennai franchise, Dhoni or IPL. At present these are all speculations. Fans are still waiting for Dhoni's statement. Dhoni has been giving different statements after playing IPL for the last 5 seasons. Meanwhile, regarding his retirement from IPL, he sometimes said yes, sometimes no… once he said no at all and continued playing in IPL.
Know what Dhoni said at which time?
– In the 2019 season, when Dhoni was asked whether he would be seen playing in the IPL in the next season? On this Mahi said- Yes, there is hope.
– In the 2020 season, Chennai could not make it to the playoffs for the first time in IPL history. After this Dhoni was asked whether this was his last match in the league. Then Dhoni said- Absolutely not. (Definitely not MS Dhoni)
– The 2021 season was very special for Dhoni. In which Mahi gave the title to Chennai for the fourth time. Then after winning the title, Harsh Bhogle asked Dhoni whether he would be seen playing next year also? On this Mahi said- I have not left anything yet.
– The 2022 season has been very bad for the Chennai team. In which a lot of tension was seen between the captaincy and the players. Even in this season, Chennai team could not reach the playoffs. Dhoni played the last match of this season on 20 May. During the toss in the match, Ian Bishop asked – will he play next year? On this Dhoni said, 'Of course, it would be unfair not to thank the CSK fans and the Chepauk crowd.'
Dhoni had told commentator Harsh Bhogle after winning the final of the 2023 season – It is very easy for me to say thank you very much, but the difficult thing is that I am working hard for the next 9 months… I want to play more. The weather, but a lot will depend on my body. I have 6-7 months to decide. This will be like a gift from my side to the fans.
Dhoni has scored 5243 runs in 264 IPL matches.
Dhoni has played a total of 264 matches in the IPL so far, in which he has scored 5243 runs at an average of 39.13. Meanwhile, Dhoni has scored 24 half-centuries. He has not scored any century yet.