IPL 2024: ‘We have seen the last of MS...,’ Dhoni to retire? Here’s what former CSK batter says
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Dhoni did most of his batting lower down the order in the season, owing to a calf injury. The batter, however, was still impactful, scoring 161 runs at a strike rate of 220.
The speculation around Chennai Super Kings (CSK) wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni's IPL retirement is rife, especially after CSK failed to make it to the playoffs in the ongoing 2024 season. CSK were ousted after losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by 27 runs on Saturday (May 18).
Former CSK batter Robin Uthappa, however, thinks that Dhoni isn't going to retire just yet and will be back for another IPL season next year.
"I don't think we have seen the last of MS," he said in an interaction with official digital broadcaster Jio Cinema. "He is not someone who takes these things lightly. He will come back roaring for sure," he added.
Dhoni did most of his batting lower down the order in the season, owing to a calf injury. The batter, however, was still impactful, scoring 161 runs at a strike rate of 220. Uthappa acknowledged the same and said that Dhoni always finds a way to be useful.
"Even with the narrative, I have seen him bat only in the last 4 or 5 overs, there is a reason for it. He had a calf injury which they initially thought perhaps was a niggle, but it was a little more grave than that. Because of that, he had to manage himself and often as he does, in international cricket and for CSK, he figured out a way to be useful and contribute to CSK," Uthappa added.
During the match against RCB, Dhoni kept his team in the hunt until the first ball of the last over with a 110m six. Needing 17 runs to qualify in the last over, RCB's Yash Dayal gave just one run in the next five balls after being hit for a six, taking his team home. The over was somewhat redemption for Dayal who had given five sixes on last five balls of the match last year against KKR's Rinku Singh.