N Srinivasan, vice chairman and managing director of India Cements, allegedly called Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni to congratulate him on the IPL 2023 title victory. CSK defeated the Hardik Pandya-led team by five wickets in the nail-biting summit showdown at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday evening (May 30) to win the highly valued trophy for the fifth time in 14 years.
The fireworks of Gujarat Titans batsman Sai Sudarsan (96 in 47 balls) set up CSK for a difficult goal of 215. However, heavy showers interrupted the second innings after just three balls had been bowled.
Pace bowler Mohit Sharma almost won it for the IPL 2022 winners with his controlled yorkers, but a six and a four from Ravindra Jadeja in the final two balls gave CSK a stylish win.
According to PTI, N Srinivasan, whose India Cements is a principal sponsor of CSK, he contacted MS Dhoni on Tuesday morning to congratulate him on his fifth IPL championship.
According to PTI, Srinivasan informed Dhoni:
“Fantastic captain. You have done a miracle. Only you can do it. We are proud of the boys and team.”
Srinivasan further said:
“This season has been one where the fans have demonstrated how much they love M S Dhoni. So do we.”
According to sources, the India Cements MD suggested that Dhoni recuperate and invited him to Chennai with his CSK teammates to celebrate the momentous win.
Will MS Dhoni play in the next IPL season?
The whole IPL 2023 was built around MS Dhoni’s final hurrah in the world’s top cricket tournament, with supporters, even those of CSK’s opponents, giving the former India captain a thunderous ovation no matter where his team played.
Last year, Dhoni stated that he would like to play in front of CSK’s home crowd in Chepauk before retiring from IPL. During the post-match presentation, CSK talisman was asked about his future in the league.
MS Dhoni reacted, saying:
“Circumstantially, if you see, this is the best time to announce my retirement. But the amount of love and affection I have been shown wherever I have been this year, the easy thing would be for me to say ‘Thank you very much’, but the tough thing for me is to work hard for another nine months and come back and play at least one more season of IPL.”
He further added:
“A lot depends on the body. I have six-seven months to decide. It will be more like a gift from my side; it’s not easy for me, but that’s a gift. The way they’ve shown their love and affection, I think that’s something I need to do for them.”
This season, MS Dhoni scored 104 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 182.46, while also inflicting 10 dismissals behind the wickets (7 catches and three stumpings).