MS Dhoni made 25 runs in his final knock for CSK in IPL 2024.
On the eve of the IPL opener against RCB, Dhoni delivered the captaincy bombshell, fueling talk that he might retire in 2024. The Yellow Brigade's talismanic batter resigned as CSK's captain ahead of the IPL 2024 opener. Dhoni gave over the captaincy to Indian opener Ruturaj Gaikwad for the 2024 season. With Gaikwad in charge, Dhoni batted as a lower-order batsman throughout the league phase.
Playing the role of the finisher against RCB in CSK’s final league game, Dhoni was tasked with scoring 17 runs in the last over of the innings bowled by Yash Dayal. He did well to hit the first ball for a six, out of the ground but perished the very next ball doing the same.
BCCI hopes to get MS Dhoni's help to convince Stephen Fleming for India head coach role- Report
CSK eventually finished on 191/7 and lost the game by 27 runs, as RCB qualified for the remaining spot in the IPL 2024 playoffs.
Wasim Akram shared that he had a gut feeling that this was it was MS Dhoni and he won’t be coming back next year.
“(On MS Dhoni’s future) I have a gut feeling, he’ll be done after this. Players like him come in a lifetime, it all depends on him. (On Memorable Six) His legacy is not just that [110m] six, it’s something else. He’s done a lot for Indian cricket. He brought the mindset. As a captain, he brought calmness, played captaincy knocks, the way he became a finisher, the way he has groomed players, and showed consistency, so this will be his legacy," Akram told Sportskeeda.
The 42-year-old amassed 161 runs in 14 games for the Super Kings. Dhoni batted at an explosive strike rate of 220.54 in the league phase.
"But, yes, for fans the last image will be that 110-metre six at his age, it’s incredible fitness. It will only be a glimpse of his legacy,” Akram concluded.