MS Dhoni To Retire After IPL 2023? CSK Official Makes Big Statement: Report

MS Dhoni will play his last IPL match in front of a home crowd at Chepauk and the CSK management expects him to officially inform about his decision before the start of the tournament. 

MS Dhoni will reportedly play his last IPL match in front of a home crowd at Chepauk.

Source : PTI

In what comes as sad news for MS Dhoni fans all over the world, the two-time World Cup winning Indian skipper is expected to play his last Indian Premier League (IPL) season this year and will most likely make the announcement himself by the end of the 2023 season, InsideSport reported.

The cash-rich tournament is returning to India after a long gap of three years and will be played in away and home format this year. As per the report, Dhoni will play his last IPL match in front of a home crowd at Chepauk and the CSK management expects the legendary wicket-keeper batter to officially inform about his decision before the start of the tournament. 

“We believe it will be his last as he wants to say goodbye at his favourite stadium. In any case, we should have clarity by the start of IPL,” a CSK official told InsideSport.

If MS Dhoni calls it time on his playing career in Indian Premier League, the frontrunners to replace him as CSK captain are Ajinkya Rahane and Ben Stokes. Both are natural leaders and have vast playing experience but don't have age by their side.

Young CSK batter Ruturaj Gaikwad has already captained Maharashtra in the domestic circuit and it makes sense for the franchise to be interested in making him the future leader.

“MS hasn’t informed us about his decision. And of course, there is no pressure on him to take a call anytime soon. He is our leader and he will only do what’s best for the team. As far as the management is concerned, MS has full backing on whether he wants to continue beyond this season,” the CSK official said.

MS Dhoni, regarded as one of the greatest cricketing leaders of all time, was the first player to win all ICC trophies as captain. MS Dhoni-led India won the T20 World Cup in 2007, ODI World Cup in 2011 and the Champions Trophy, two years later. Dhoni announced retirement from international cricket in 2020. He played his last match for the Indian team in the 2019 World Cup semi-final -- India vs New Zealand.