CSK CEO reveals significance of '19:29 hrs' in MS Dhoni's retirement announcement

MS Dhoni retired from international cricket on Aug 15 at 19:29 hours.

One of the most popular cricketers in India and all world, MS Dhoni shocked everyone after announcing his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020. He posted a video on his Instagram account capturing his journey as an India player and posted a simple message of thank you.

However, one thing caught the eyes of everyone in Dhoni’s message and that was a very peculiar thing that he mentioned in his post which read, “Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout. From 1929 hrs consider me as Retired"

The specialty of the timing came to light after CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan got a call from boss N Srinivasan who wanted to know if Dhoni rumor was correct. As written in Mumbai Mirror, the CEO walked towards the dressing room in Chepauk, where the CSK team is having its nets sessions before flying to the UAE.

Viswanathan confronted him with his boss’ query – his query too – and Dhoni replied in the affirmative. “When did you do that?” Viswanathan asked. “At 1929 hours,” Dhoni replied. “On my Insta.”

International cricket fraternity rises to applaud MS Dhoni after his retirement

The significance of the time 19.29 dawned on the CSK official when he called Srinivasan back. “It was the hour of the sunset at the southern-most part of the country,” the CSK official explained. “I think that is why he did it at that time.” He did not have to explain the significance of the sunset hour with the retirement decision. No-brainer!

It was also obvious that it was well planned. It came just the way many of Dhoni’s iconic and impulsive decisions had come.

The rumors are that Dhoni was disappointed when a senior BCCI official called him to say that he would not be considered for central contracts. He was also not happy with reactions he would hear from the concerned quarters about his diminishing strike-rate.

“What would he have said, as a natural reaction you would say, ‘do whatever is right. That was construed as consent. No one cared for the hurt inside, when Indian cricket ‘moved on from him.’ He wanted one last hurrah in the T20 World Cup,” someone close to Dhoni revealed.  

That was the reason he had said no to a brand when it approached him to do a promo on his retirement during last year’s World Cup, which ended rather agonizingly for him. He failed to take India home in the semi-finals against New Zealand at Old Trafford and he had realized that the whispers behind him had started.

It is believed that Dhoni has given assurance to Srinivasan that he will be available for the IPL next year. The CSK boss has already declared that Dhoni will be retained for the 2021 season.

(Mumbai Mirror inputs)