Despite still being part of the squad, Anil Kumble doesn’t expect Dhoni to take the field. The former coach believes the wicket-keeping stalwart’s presence can still be valuable
Our Bureau
Chennai
Former cricketers Aakash Chopra, Ajay Jadeja, and Anil Kumble paid tribute to the bond that MS Dhoni shares with the city of Chennai, as the veteran wicketkeeper batter continues to walk through the twilight phase of his illustrious career. As the cricketing calendar year heads to the time of year when the headlines are dominated by the Indian Premier League (IPL), Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings have been the talk of the town during the build-up of the cash-rich league, just like in previous chapters.
The inseparable franchise and player duo could potentially be looking at having their last dance together in the upcoming season. CSK retained Dhoni as an uncapped player before last year’s mega auction in Jeddah.
The former cricketer-turned-commentator, Aakash, reflected on the “heartwarming” bond that Dhoni and Chennai share. “The bond between MS Dhoni and Chennai is truly heartwarming. It’s rare for a player from another city to be embraced so completely as one of their own,” Aakash Chopra said on the JioHotstar series called ‘Power Play.’
Ajay Jadeja believes that when the IPL made its debut in 2008, nobody would have ever expected that Dhoni would become the “son” of Chennai. “It’s been a beautiful journey. When the IPL started in 2008, every team had its own icon–Yuvraj Singh for Punjab and Virender Sehwag for Delhi. No one could have imagined back then that Dhoni would become the son of Chennai,” he said.
“Tamil Nadu has a history of hero worship, so it was only a matter of time before MS Dhoni earned that status, where fans truly idolized him,” Kumble added.
With Dhoni choosing Ruturaj Gaikwad as his successor and limiting his duties to just the gloves and the bat, signs have silently pointed towards the dawn of a new era in CSK.
With Gaikwad at the helm, the five-time champions finished the last season in the fifth spot, missing the qualification mark by a whisker. “I think the planning for the post-Dhoni era has begun. Because now we can see that a time is coming when Dhoni as a player will not be a part of that group,” Aakash said.
Despite still being part of the squad, Kumble doesn’t expect Dhoni to take the field. The former Indian head coach believes the wicket-keeping stalwart’s presence can still be valuable even if he doesn’t play every game.
“With Ruturaj leading the side, this could be a season where Dhoni may not even take the field. He might still be part of the squad, thanks to retention rules, and with the impact player rule, his presence can still be valuable without playing every game,” he said.
Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers hailed Dhoni for encouraging millions to watch cricket and be inspired.
“Gotta give credit to him for encouraging millions of fans out there to watch the game of cricket and to be inspired. It’s because of guys like him who have really carried the game well over a very long period of time. Touch wood; hopefully, it continues for a few more years to come,” he said.
Also, ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad opened up on how legendary five-time IPL-winning and World Cup-winning Indian skipper MS Dhoni approached him for captaincy ahead of the previous season and assured him that he will be getting to make his own calls.
CSK will be kickstarting their upcoming IPL season against arch-rivals and five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at Chennai on March 23. Last year, under Gaikwad’s captaincy, CSK failed to defend their title, finishing at fifth spot with seven wins and seven losses, with 14 points. They missed out on the playoffs spot on basis of net-run-rate.
Speaking exclusively on JioHotstar on CSK’s leadership transition, the experts and the skipper himself said: Gaikwad said, “Just a week before the tournament last year, MS Dhoni came up to me and said, ‘I am not leading this year–you are.’ I was taken aback, asking, ‘From the first game? Are you sure?’ With just a few days to prepare, it was overwhelming. But he assured me, ‘This is your team. You make your own decisions. I would not interfere–except when field placements are a 50-50 call. Even then, it is not a compulsion to follow my advice. That trust meant a lot to me.”
Speaking on MS DhonI’s longevity in the IPL, his former teammate and Australian legend Shane Watson, said, “The incredible part is that, even at 42, MS Dhoni is still delivering moments of brilliance. Though his role is more limited now, his impact on the team–and especially the fans–remains invaluable.”
