MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international on 15 August 2020 after not having returned to the national side for over a year. He will still be a part of IPL 2020 and going by the words of CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan, Dhoni will continue to play the IPL till 2022.

Former Indian wicket-keeper Saba Karim believes that the world needs Dhoni to continue playing the IPL as he's had a major contribution to the success of the league. He has since become a global icon.

"He is very fit and I believe he is working very hard on it. Plus he has stopped playing international cricket so there will be less burden on his body. Global cricket still needs an icon like MS Dhoni to continue, "Karim told AFP.

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MS Dhoni captained a young Indian team in the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007 and led them to the victory as well. This changed the perception of T20 cricket in the country and in the eyes of the board, leading to the birth of the IPL in 2008, and the rest they say is history.

"Dhoni played an instrumental role in kick-starting the IPL because of the way he brought a different dimension to the shorter format of the game because of his aggressive side with the willow. Also with his calm exterior behind the stumps," Karim added.

MS Dhoni will now lead the Chennai Super Kings in the race for their fourth IPL title in the UAE from 19 September.

(With inputs from AFP)