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SPORTS FEBRUARY 28, 2025 | The Indian Eye 38

M S DHONI

As the IPL season about to begin, all eyes on

the bond between CSK and its former captain

Despite still being part of the squad, Anil Kumble doesn’t expect Dhoni to take the field.

The former coach believes the wicket-keeping stalwart’s presence can still be valuable

OUR BUREAU
Chennai
ormer cricketers Aakash Chopra, Ajay Jadeja,
and Anil Kumble paid tribute to the bond that
FMS Dhoni shares with the city of Chennai, as
the veteran wicketkeeper batter continues to walk
through the twilight phase of his illustrious career.
As the cricketing calendar year heads to the time of
year when the headlines are dominated by the Indi-
an Premier League (IPL), Dhoni and Chennai Su-
per Kings have been the talk of the town during the
build-up of the cash-rich league, just like in previous
chapters.
The inseparable franchise and player duo could
potentially be looking at having their last dance to-
gether in the upcoming season. CSK retained Dhoni
as an uncapped player before last year’s mega auc-
tion in Jeddah.
The former cricketer-turned-commentator,
Aakash, reflected on the “heartwarming” bond that
Dhoni and Chennai share. “The bond between MS
Dhoni and Chennai is truly heartwarming. It’s rare
for a player from another city to be embraced so
completely as one of their own,” Aakash Chopra
said on the JioHotstar series called ‘Power Play.’ Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (ANI)
Ajay Jadeja believes that when the IPL made
its debut in 2008, nobody would have ever expect-
ed that Dhoni would become the “son” of Chennai. doesn’t play every game. Mumbai Indians (MI) at Chennai on March 23. Last
“It’s been a beautiful journey. When the IPL started “With Ruturaj leading the side, this could be a year, under Gaikwad’s captaincy, CSK failed to de-
in 2008, every team had its own icon--Yuvraj Singh season where Dhoni may not even take the field. He fend their title, finishing at fifth spot with seven wins
for Punjab and Virender Sehwag for Delhi. No one might still be part of the squad, thanks to retention and seven losses, with 14 points. They missed out on
could have imagined back then that Dhoni would rules, and with the impact player rule, his presence can the playoffs spot on basis of net-run-rate.
become the son of Chennai,” he said. still be valuable without playing every game,” he said. Speaking exclusively on JioHotstar on CSK’s
“Tamil Nadu has a history of hero worship, so it Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers leadership transition, the experts and the skipper
was only a matter of time before MS Dhoni earned that hailed Dhoni for encouraging millions to watch himself said: Gaikwad said, “Just a week before the
status, where fans truly idolized him,” Kumble added. cricket and be inspired. tournament last year, MS Dhoni came up to me and
With Dhoni choosing Ruturaj Gaikwad as his “Gotta give credit to him for encouraging mil- said, ‘I am not leading this year--you are.’ I was taken
successor and limiting his duties to just the gloves lions of fans out there to watch the game of cricket aback, asking, ‘From the first game? Are you sure?’
and the bat, signs have silently pointed towards the and to be inspired. It’s because of guys like him who With just a few days to prepare, it was overwhelming.
dawn of a new era in CSK. have really carried the game well over a very long But he assured me, ‘This is your team. You make
With Gaikwad at the helm, the five-time cham- period of time. Touch wood; hopefully, it continues your own decisions. I would not interfere--except
pions finished the last season in the fifth spot, miss- for a few more years to come,” he said. when field placements are a 50-50 call. Even then, it
ing the qualification mark by a whisker. “I think the Also, ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League is not a compulsion to follow my advice. That trust
planning for the post-Dhoni era has begun. Because (IPL) season, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain meant a lot to me.”
now we can see that a time is coming when Dhoni Ruturaj Gaikwad opened up on how legendary five- Speaking on MS DhonI’s longevity in the IPL,
as a player will not be a part of that group,” Aakash time IPL-winning and World Cup-winning Indian his former teammate and Australian legend Shane
said. skipper MS Dhoni approached him for captaincy Watson, said, “The incredible part is that, even at
Despite still being part of the squad, Kumble ahead of the previous season and assured him that 42, MS Dhoni is still delivering moments of bril-
doesn’t expect Dhoni to take the field. The former he will be getting to make his own calls. liance. Though his role is more limited now, his im-
Indian head coach believes the wicket-keeping CSK will be kickstarting their upcoming IPL pact on the team--and especially the fans--remains
stalwart’s presence can still be valuable even if he season against arch-rivals and five-time champions invaluable.”

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