Like IPL 2023, MS Dhoni continues to be a crowd puller with speculations rife that the ongoing season could be the final as a player of his stellar career. With fans packing venues wherever Dhoni played last year, the then Chennai Super Kings captain finished the season with IPL title, the fifth as a captain.
However, he did promise another season and underwent a knee surgery to ensure his participation in the T20 league. Surprisingly, he stepped away from CSK captaincy on the eve of IPL 2024, handing over the reins to Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Dhoni didn’t get to bat in the first two matches of IPL 2024 as he was penciled in to bat quite low down the order,. When he finally stepped out with the bat against Delhi Capitals, he turned the clock back with his power hitting.
Dhoni’s former CSK teammate and now a JioCinema expert Shane Watson says the legendary India captain has looked as good as ever.
“For me to be able to see MS Dhoni at the age of 42 and still being able to play in innings like he did in the last game against the Delhi Capitals, some of those shots are as good a shots he has ever played,” Watson told News18 CricketNext in an exclusive chat.
“The amazing six over cover as a starting point just shows that he’s still got some of his very best cricket available to him and available to us who are watching and fortunate to be able to still be watching him,” Watson added.
‘Dhoni Can Continue To Play’
Watson believes that if the veteran wicket-keeper manages his body well then he can add a few more IPL seasons to his career.
“So as long as his body’s okay, as he obviously manages his body as well as he possibly can, MS Dhoni, with the desire that he’s got and the skill that he’s showing with the gloves and also with the bat, then he can continue to play for a number of years as we saw with Tom Brady in the NFL,” Watson said.
“If you’ve got the desire and you’ve obviously got the skill that’s so deeply ingrained in you, then you can play for really as long as you want and MS Dhoni is showing that, like he did in the last game,” he added.
Stay updated with the latest from IPL 2024, including top contenders for the IPL 2024 Orange Cap and IPL 2024 Purple Cap. Explore the complete IPL 2024 Schedule, IPL 2024 Points Table and players with the Most Sixes, Most Fours and Most Fifties in IPL 2024
Watson also lauded CSK for having world-class backups available if when needed.
“CSK have got what they always do. They really don’t have any holes in their team whatsoever and we have seen that from the start of this tournament as well,” Watson said.
“As soon as if one person is not there, then another one, someone else just comes and fulfils a role to have a world-class quality. For example, Devin Conway and Rachin Ravindra,” he concluded.
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