Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO Kasi Viswanathan expects MS Dhoni to be a permanent fixture of the IPL franchise's set-up in the next 10 years.
Speaking on the show 'Dhoni Vazhi Thani Vazhi' on Star Sports 1 Tamil on Dhoni's 39th birthday, Viswanathan said the CSK skipper was determined to do well in IPL 2020 and the way he trained during a team practice camp in March was 'unbelievable'.
WATCH - CSK share video of "Chennai's Super Kids" playing Helicopter Shot on Dhoni's 39th Birthday
It has been almost a year since Dhoni last played any form of competitive cricket. The World Cup 2019 semi-final against New Zealand at Old Trafford was his last appearance in Team India colours. In a bid to stake claim for a place in the national squad for T20 World Cup, he was set to lead CSK in the 13th edition of Indian Premier League, which was scheduled to start on March 29.
In fact, the veteran wicketkeeper landed in Chennai in the first week of March and trained extensively with a few of his CSK teammates, including Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu. But his plans got jeopardized due to COVID-19 as the pandemic forced the BCCI to suspend the cash-rich tournament “until further notice”.
"In 10 years from now, my feeling is that he'll be a permanent fixture in Chennai as the Chennai Super Kings Boss," Viswanathan said.
"The kind of practice sessions he had was unbelievable. He was motivated to do well in the season. He is the only one. He is the best and he will be the best."
Viswanathan also opened up on why the CSK stars and the management gave Dhoni the nickname 'Thala'.
"We suffered 4 consecutive losses at one point in time in the IPL. At the time, he went and met the team. He said only one thing to his teammates 'I have gone through many times in my life. Believe in yourself and we can do it'.
"I knew that he's able to get the best out of the team by himself. He's able to get the best out of any member of the team. So we thought we should call him Thala," Viswanathan said.
The indefinite postponement of IPL 2020 has sparked debate over Dhoni’s immediate cricket future. But it is worth noting here that CSK owner N Srinivasan had earlier said Dhoni will be retained by his franchise in the IPL 2021 auction.
"People keep saying when will he... how long will he play, etc. He will play. I can assure you. He will play this year. Next year he will go to the auction; he will be retained. So there is no doubt in anybody's mind," Srinivasan had said last year.
