Former India head coach Ravi Shastri raised eyebrows by stating that the ongoing IPL season could be MS Dhoni’s last, citing concerns over Dhoni’s fitness and the toll of the tournament on his body.
Chennai Super Kings are facing the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024’s 13th match in Vizag on Sunday night. The defending champions, unbeaten so far, aim to extend their winning streak against the struggling DC. Legendary MS Dhoni surprised by stepping down as captain, passing the baton to Ruturaj Gaikwad. This strategic shift, unlike previous experiments, has yielded favorable results.
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Meanwhile, former India coach Ravi Shastri hinted at Dhoni’s possible retirement, emphasizing his fitness’s role in the ongoing season’s demands.
“This is MS Dhoni’s last season okay, very clear. You know, it depends on how his body copes with everything, whether he plays the whole season or doesn’t, only time will tell,” Shastri said in a discussion on Star Sports.
“Be in the hot seat from the outside, I’m (Dhoni is) watching from the back, and if he (Ruturaj) needs some help I’m there to help him out, but I think as compared to the year when Jadeja was captain, MS will take more and more of the backseat and probably contribute just in a little way between the drinks break or something like that,” he added.
In contrast to Ravindra Jadeja’s captaincy stint in 2022, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s leadership has proven fruitful for CSK, marked by wins over strong teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans. This successful run has propelled CSK to the top of the table with an impressive net run rate of +1.979.
Last Updated on March 31, 2024
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