MS Dhoni, the legendary cricketer from Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has spoken about his strong connection with the franchise and his reasons for remaining with the team for many years.
Former Indian captain MS Dhoni is undeniably a cricket legend. Though he has retired from international cricket, the 42-year-old continues to shine for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Dhoni, who has led CSK to five IPL titles, is a beloved figure among the team’s fans.
In the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008, Chennai Super Kings acquired MS Dhoni in the first-ever auction. Unlike the other seven franchises, CSK did not designate a marquee player. Instead, they invested heavily to secure the services of the wicketkeeper-batter. Since then, Dhoni has been a cornerstone of the franchise, only playing for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants during the 2016 and 2017 seasons when CSK was banned.
Even at 42, Dhoni continues to play in the IPL, driven by the unwavering support of his fans. Recently, he spoke about this special bond, describing his connection with CSK as “emotional.” He emphasized that he is more than just a player who shows up annually to play and then leaves; his relationship with the team and its supporters runs much deeper.
“My connection with CSK it’s an emotional connect. It is not only like a player who comes plays for a couple of months and then goes back home,” MS Dhoni said on the Dubai Eye 103.8 YouTube channel.
CSK, the five-time champions, couldn’t secure a spot in the knockout stages of the current IPL 2024. They faced a crucial match against RCB at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 18, which was a must-win to stay in the competition.
There has been widespread speculation about the 41-year-old retiring after this season, potentially ruling him out of the IPL 2025 mega-auction. However, he has not yet made any official announcement regarding his future.
Earlier the former India batsman Ambati Rayudu shared his belief that Dhoni has not played his final match. Rayudu also voiced support for the BCCI’s controversial Impact Player rule, suggesting it would help the seasoned legend continue his career in the league.
Speaking on Star Sports Cricket Live, Rayudu said, “I don’t think this is his last game. I just don’t see him wanting to end on this note.”
“He looked a little frustrated, even when he got out. That’s very unlike MS Dhoni, he just wanted to qualify and finish on a high. But you never know with MS Dhoni, he might come back next year. With the impact player role as well, it gives him the opportunity to be able to come in those last few overs and truly make that impact. BCCI better not remove the impact player role because we still want to see MS Dhoni play. So, it’s up to BCCI now. Do we want to see MS Dhoni play or not.”
