Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan believes that MS Dhoni will never retire from the Chennai Super Kings. The former Indian captain has been associated with the Chennai-based franchise since the inaugural season in 2008. MS Dhoni has been one of the most successful captains in the Indian Premier League (IPL), winning five IPL titles as captain. He is expected to feature in the upcoming IPL 2024 for the Chennai Super Kings as their pacer.
MS Dhoni was expected to retire after last season’s triumph, but he promised his fans that he would return to play for CSK next season. As a result, he underwent knee surgery in June 2023 at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Hospital and has been rehabilitating since then. Chennai Super Kings have regularly updated fans about his fitness and rehabilitation and he has made great progress. He also started batting practice last month and appeared to be in playing shape.
During one of the Star Sports segments, Irfan Pathan and Sanjay Manjrekar were asked who is more dependent, MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings or Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians. To which Irfan replied: “There is no doubt that the dependency is greater on MS Dhoni. “A lot of people will see this and even if they are not CSK fans, they will say that in future MS Dhoni will not be there.”
“It’s a scary thought, but what will happen? MS Dhoni will use his brain and change the way the team plays to change the dependency. Mahendra Singh Dhoni will never retire from CSK.”
Sanjay Manjrekar agreed with Irfan Pathan and said, “Clearly there is more dependence on Mahendra Singh Dhoni when it comes to CSK, not just Dhoni the player but now completely the leader, they are more dependent. But coming to Mumbai Indians, they don’t believe in depending on just one player, we like to spread the net, that’s why Hardik Pandya is coming.
Watch: Irafn Pathan and Sanjay Manjrekar on CSK’s dependence on MS Dhoni
#IrfanPathan believes #Dhoni will never retire from Chennai, and we #believe it wholeheartedly! 💛😍
He says though Chennai is heavily dependent on #Thala, he will ensure the team makes a smooth transition! pic.twitter.com/lVXj03iplJ
– Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 26, 2024
The IPL 2024 is expected to start at the end of March and run until the end of May, followed by the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Chennai Super Kings are the defending champions and it will be MS Dhoni’s last season. In the IPL, the team wants to say goodbye to him by winning the trophy again.
MS Dhoni has been the most successful captain and has won all three ICC titles as captain of the Indian team. He has led the Chennai Super Kings to 10 IPL finals and won five of them. He is one of the best players to grace the game and CSK will definitely miss his presence once he bids farewell to the game.