In 2024, MS Dhoni has continued to captivate fans with his enduring presence in cricket, defying his age and remaining a key player for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during their IPL campaign.
Despite handing over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad before the season began, and with the stage set for his potential retirement after IPL 2024, Dhoni chose to continue playing. The final matches, including Qualifier 2 and the final, were scheduled at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, but CSK’s journey ended when they lost to RCB by 27 runs in their last league match, eliminating them from the playoffs.
Dhoni has not hinted at retirement, and his close aides have remained tight-lipped about his future. India pacer Mohammed Shami shed some light on Dhoni’s decision to keep playing. In a YouTube podcast, Shami shared Dhoni’s philosophy on retirement. Dhoni believes a player should retire when they no longer enjoy the game or if they sense they might be dropped from the team.
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Shami explained Dhoni’s perspective: “I had this conversation with Mahi bhai about retirement. He said, ‘First, when you yourself get bored, and second, when you realize that you might be kicked out of the team. But primarily, it’s about when you stop enjoying the game. Your body will start signaling if you can’t sustain a particular format, and that’s when it’s time to retire.’”
Dhoni remained in good form throughout IPL 2024, contributing crucial late cameos for CSK. Although his performances were pivotal in several games, they were not enough to secure CSK a place in the playoffs.