Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been at their best in this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) as the MS Dhoni-led franchise is at the top of the table with 16 points to their name in 10 matches played (8 wins, 2 losses).
With Dhoni retiring from international cricket, there were talks regarding the wicket-keeper batter deciding to leave IPL as well. Former Australia cricketer Brad Hogg was the latest in this discussion as he believes Dhoni will retire after conclusion of IPL 2021.
“I think he's going to retire at the end of the year from IPL cricket. The way he got out to Chakravarthy the other day with the wrong un', there was a huge gap between bat and pad. I think the reflexes of the 40-year-old are just starting to wane. His keeping has been sensational,” Hogg said in his YouTube video.
“It's good for Indian cricket and CSK that he is still going because of his leadership out in the middle. He's keeping things calm and helped Jadeja grow as a cricketer and developing youngsters as well. Just the way that he walked off, that body language, there was a glint in the eye that said I think I've just lost that sharpness,” he added.
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Hogg then talked about retirement won’t be curtains for the Ranchi-based cricketer at CSK and suggested to take up a managerial role with the franchise and oversee proceedings along with Stephen Fleming citing his appointment as Team India’s mentor in T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE and Oman.
“At the age of 40 and with the role that he's got with the Indian Cricket Team going into that T20 World Cup, I think he'll move into a management role or even the head coach of CSK,” the left-arm spinner said.
“Probably the management role and sit alongside Stephen Fleming and help out develop the youngsters but also create a good strategy for the new wave of CSK cricketers moving forward because you need someone of that quality around that knows Indian conditions, knows the Indian people and has a good rapport with the players,” the Aussie cricketer concluded.
As far as the CSK is concerned, the MS Dhoni and Co. will be taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday (30 September) at Sharjah.
