Is This MS Dhoni Last IPL Season
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season progresses, a burning question looms in the minds of cricket fans: Is this MS Dhoni’s final run in the tournament? Michael Hussey, the batting coach of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), certainly hopes not. His recent comments have reignited discussions about the future of the legendary captain.
Michael Hussey’s Perspective on Dhoni’s Future
Michael Hussey’s admiration for Dhoni is evident. When asked about Dhoni’s future, Michael Hussey candidly admitted that he has no inside information but expressed his hope for MS Dhoni to continue playing for “another couple of years.”
“Your guess is as good as mine at this stage,” Hussey said. “He keeps his cards very, very close to his chest. We are hoping he does keep going.”
Managing Dhoni’s Workload
Despite undergoing knee surgery after the previous season, Dhoni’s performance this year has been commendable. CSK has been careful with his workload, often sending him to bat in the lower order to manage his physical condition. Remarkably, even in these limited opportunities, Dhoni has made a significant impact, scoring 136 runs in ten innings at an astonishing strike rate of 226.66.
“I know fans probably want to see him batting a little bit higher in the order,” Hussey noted, “but that [the knee surgery] is why we have had to manage him a little bit and he only comes in at the back end. But there has been no one better in being able to come in and hit the ball so cleanly from ball one than MS. He has been phenomenal.”
CSK’s Seamless Captaincy Transition to Ruturaj Gaikwad
One of the season’s highlights was Dhoni’s decision to hand over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. This transition, though unexpected, has been managed smoothly, thanks to Dhoni’s guidance and the meticulous planning of CSK’s coaching staff.
“MS sort of announced that he was not going to be attending the pre-tournament captains meeting. And we’re like, ‘Oh, no. What’s going on?’,” Hussey recalled. “He said Ruturaj was going to be captain from then on. So it was a little bit of a shock to start with but it has been managed really well.”
Ruturaj Gaikwad: The New Leader
Ruturaj Gaikwad has risen to the occasion, leading CSK with poise and strategic acumen. Under his leadership, CSK has secured seven wins out of 13 games, positioning themselves third on the points table. Gaikwad’s own performance with the bat has been stellar, making him the second-highest run-getter in the league with 583 runs at a strike rate of 141.50.
“He is a great guy, Ruturaj, very calm,” Hussey said. “He is a good thinker of the game. I mean it was always going to be a massive challenge for him, you know, how do you follow someone like MS Dhoni – it was going to be tough. But he has done a great job.”
The Importance of Dhoni’s Presence
Even though Dhoni has stepped back from the captaincy, his presence in the team remains invaluable. He continues to mentor Gaikwad and provide crucial support both on and off the field. This mentorship has been instrumental in ensuring a smooth leadership transition within CSK.
“MS wanted to still be here while the new captain took over, to try to help him along the way and sort of mentor him a little bit. So that’s worked really well as well,” Hussey explained.
What Lies Ahead for CSK?
As the season progresses, the focus shifts to CSK’s performance in the playoffs. A win against Royal Challengers Bangalore will secure their spot, and the team, under Gaikwad’s captaincy and Dhoni’s mentorship, looks poised for success.
