Former India team mentor, Anil Kumble, suggests it might be tough for Chennai Super Kings’ captain MS Dhoni to get completely ready for IPL 2024. Yet, he anticipates him to participate the whole season if prepared.
CSK fans heaved a sigh of relief when Dhoni was included to the franchise’s retained players list on November 26. Despite his age, the champion cricketer will almost certainly play in his 17th IPL season.
Dhoni groaned frequently throughout this year’s IPL and had knee surgery after the season.
Speaking to Jio Cinemas on the retention day, Anil Kumble believes MS Dhoni would struggle in the forthcoming season due to a lack of match preparation and the comeback from knee surgery.
“He has undergone a knee surgery,” Kumble said. “He has to work hard, but he is someone who will not give you any clue about when he is going to leave. We have seen that with the way he left international cricket too. I am sure the fans and the players want him to go all the way. I am sure if he is ready if he makes himself ready, he will play the full season.””I think last year was a classic example.”
He added:
“We all know he was not 100 percent fit, but yet he managed to be at his best behind the stumps, in front of the stumps. You have time, but he has hardly played any cricket. It’s not going to be easy.”
Anil Kumble
MS Dhoni guided Chennai Super Kings to a record-tying fifth IPL trophy with a stunning last-ball victory over the Gujarat Titans in the grand finale.
Despite batting at Nos. 7 and 8, the CSK captain provided numerous vital cameos, as indicated by his remarkable strike rate of over 182.
“I don’t think he will leave the season midway” – Aakash Chopra on MS Dhoni
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra agreed with Anil Kumble and said that MS Dhoni would play the full IPL 2024 season, like he did this year.
CSK discharged up to eight players, including the now-retired Ambati Rayudu and England Test captain Ben Stokes, who opted out of the 2018 IPL season.
“I don’t think he will leave the season midway,” Chopra said. “He has proved everyone wrong, time and again. MS Dhoni will decide it himself. Last season also, there were concerns about his knee, he was struggling, but he managed to play. Last year, when Ben Stokes came, there was talk about him becoming the next CSK captain. But after a year, Stokes has left. Will it be Ruturaj Gaikwad?”
Aakash Chopra
Last season, Dhoni became the first player to lead a single IPL team in 200 games, and he remains the only captain with more than 100 victories (133).
Dhoni guided CSK to two Champions League T20 victories in 2010 and 2014, in addition to the five IPL wins.