In a battle for the final IPL 2024 playoffs spot, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) suffered a 27-run defeat at the hands of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday (May 18).
While the defending champions were chasing a daunting target of 219, they needed over 200 runs to qualify and came remarkably close with MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja launching a counterattack towards the end.
The defending champions required 17 runs off the final over, but despite Dhoni smashing a towering six off the first ball, Yash Dayal held his nerves to secure RCB’s victory.
After CSK’s elimination, MS Dhoni’s future with the franchise has become a topic of discussion all over again.
Meanwhile, former CSK cricketers Robin Uthappa and Shane Watson are confident that Dhoni will return to the tournament next season.
"I don't think we have seen the last of MS. He is not someone who takes these things lightly. He will come back roaring for sure," Uthappa said while speaking on JioCinema.
"Even with the narrative, I have seen him bat only in the last 4 or 5 overs, there is a reason for it. He had a calf injury which they initially thought perhaps was a niggle, but it was a little more grave than that. Because of that, he had to manage himself and often as he does, in international cricket and for CSK, he figured out a way to be useful and contribute to CSK," he added.
Despite battling with calf injury, Dhoni’s performance this season was remarkable. He managed to amass 161 runs at an average of 53.66 and a staggering strike rate of 220.54 across 11 innings.
Watson endorsed Uthappa's views and expressed his hope that Dhoni will continue to play in the IPL for at least another one or two years.
"He batted beautifully again. There is no doubt that he can fulfill a very important role for CSK, even if it's coming in and facing 13-15 balls each game and doing this. He played incredibly well. Fingers crossed, MSD can roll out again for at least one or two more years, fulfilling this role which is a little less demanding physically on him anyway," Watson said.
On the eve of the IPL 2024 opener, MS Dhoni stepped down as CSK captain, handing over the leadership baton to Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Under Gaikwad’s captaincy, the defending champions finished the season with 14 points but an inferior run-rate meant that they missed out on the playoffs spot.
