‘MS Dhoni Will Come Back Roaring For Sure’, Says Robin Uthappa Quashing Ex-CSK Captain’s Retirement Rumours

Playing with a knee injury, MS Dhoni finished his IPL 2024 season with 161 runs in 14 matches at an excellent strike rate of 220.55.

Bengaluru: Former India batter Robin Uthappa believed that MS Dhoni will return to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) next season, adding that the CSK stalwart isn’t someone who takes heartbreaks and setbacks lightly. On Saturday, Dhoni ended his IPL 2024 campaign on a heart-wrenching note as he wasn’t able to finish the match when his team needed 17 runs in the final over against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. As a result, CSK were knocked out of the playoffs race.

With Dhoni still in there, there was hope for CSK. He even hit Yash Dayal for a gigantic 110m six in the first ball of the final over to bring down the equation to 11 needed from five balls. Unfortunately, Dhoni’s wicket in the very next ball dashed all hopes. Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja weren’t able to cross the finish line as Dayal kept his composure to take RCB through.

“I don’t think we have seen the last of MS. He is not someone who takes these things lightly. He will come back roaring for sure,” Uthappa told Jio Cinema. Uthappa’s comes in at a time when speculations were rife whether Dhoni played his final game for CSK.

Chasing 201 for playoffs qualification, Dhoni joined Jadeja when CSK were six down at 129. From there on, Jadeja (42 not out) and Dhoni (25 off 13 balls) built a quick partnership of 61 runs to keep CSK’s hopes alive. However, CSK managed to finish at 191/7 in 20 overs in reply to RCB’s 218/5.

The former CSK skipper had last year said he wanted to finish in front of his home fans and that would have been possible if CSK had qualified for the final as the summit clash is scheduled to take place in Chepauk, Chennai.

Uthappa also highlighted that the former India captain was managing a niggle throughout the tournament, hinting that there is too much to offer from a fitter Dhoni next year. “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 has he does, in international cricket and for CSK, He figured out a way to be more useful and contribute to CSK,” Uthappa said.

Dhoni finished his IPL 2024 season with 161 runs in 14 matches at an excellent strike rate of 220.55 as he kept himself to just play cameos, but excelled as a finisher. Dhoni’s keeping behind the wickets was magical as always the 42 year old was seeming to be 24 year old sometimes.

MS Can Play 1-2 More Years For CSK: Watson

Meanwhile, former Australia all-rounder and Dhoni’s ex-CSK teammate Shane Watson urged him to continue playing at least for one or two more years in the IPL. “He batted beautifully again. There is no doubt that he can fulfil a very important role for CSK, even if it’s coming and facing 13-15 balls each game and doing this. He played incredibly well.

“If he had hit the ball that got out a fraction later, that would have gone into the stands as well and the game would have been a very different result. He batted beautifully and kept very well as well. Fingers crossed, MSD can roll out again for at least 1 or 2 more years, fulfilling this role which is less demanding physically on him anyway,” Watson Said.