Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh has urged MS Dhoni to continue playing in the Indian Premier League as the rumors about his retirement after IPL 2023 continue to gain traction.
Dhoni, 41, is captaining the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the ongoing IPL 2023, where the team sits at the second spot of the points table with 15 points to their name.
Earlier, in post-match presentations, Dhoni admitted that he is “in the last phase of his career” and thanked the fans for coming in large numbers to support him throughout the country. The CSK skipper has kept the cricketing fraternity and fans guessing about his retirement.
When asked about his impending retirement at the toss versus LSG, Dhoni responded to commentator Danny Morrison by saying he had never made a statement regarding the matter.
"You've decided it is my last," Dhoni had said with a smile to Morrison's question at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium on May 3.
Speaking ahead of the CSK vs KKR clash on Star Sports, Harbhajan urged the mercurial CSK captain to continue playing for a few more years.
"MS Dhoni has stopped time. He still looks the same old Dhoni. He's hitting those big shots, taking those singles. Although he's not running at his full speed, he's hitting those sixes at ease and still looks dangerous with the bat. Don't hurt our feelings MSD. You should continue playing," said Harbhajan.
Former Indian women's cricket team captain Mithali Raj also praised Dhoni for shutting out the noise surrounding his future and keeping CSK in the hunt for a spot in playoffs.
"There are a lot of noises when a player approaches the back end of his career. MS Dhoni shut the noise brilliantly and guided his team slowly this season. He's helped CSK stay in the hunt for the top two spots so far. It's not just his captaincy, but also the on-field strategies that he's made has helped CSK do well. He made several smart moves in the tournament. Rahane is a perfect example of how a player revives himself under a good captain," she said.
CSK will clash with Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai on May 14, 2023 in Chennai.
