MS Dhoni is set to make his highly anticipated return to the field with the IPL 2024 where he’ll be leading the defending champions Chennai Super Kings. Dhoni played with an injured knee last season to guide CSK to a record-equaling fifth IPL title as they drew level with Mumbai Indians.
With Dhoni in his early forties, it was rumored that IPL 2023 will be his final as a player. However, the legendary India captain will be returning for another season, aiming for a record sixth title.
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With the season set to kickstart from March 22 when CSK host Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai, the speculations over whether Dhoni’s retirement after IPL 2024 will start gathering steam.
South Africa legend AB de Villiers says Dhoni is a ‘diesel engine’ keeps running and nobody knows when he will call time on his IPL career.
“There were a lot of rumours about MS Dhoni finishing up last year, that was not the case, ladies and gentlemen,” De Villiers said on his YouTube channel. “He would be back again. Will this be his final season? No one knows. He just seems to be this diesel engine that never ends. He keeps running. What an incredible player, what an incredible captain.”
De Villiers, who represented RCB and Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) during his IPL career, praised CSK and credited Dhoni, head coach Stephen Fleming and senior players like Ravindra Jadeja for creating the team culture that has made them an ‘intimidating team’.
“I believe it’s through their presence, it’s through the leadership of MSD, a calm coach in Stephen Fleming, senior players in Ravi Jadeja and others who have really set this incredible culture alive. They are a very intimidating team to play against. They are never easy to beat,” he De Villiers said.
“That is always a great characteristic of a very successful unit, of a very successful franchise. When you are playing well, it’s, ‘Yes, no problem, no one’s gonna stop us’ but when you are not playing so well – they always find a way to compete,” he added.
De Villiers further feels that CSK won’t be under any pressure to defend their title and that’s what makes them ‘dangerous’.
“They won last year. Yes, they want to defend their title but there’s almost no pressure on MSD and his troops and I think that makes them dangerous. Can they go back-to-back? They certainly have the ability,” he said.
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