Chennai Super Kings (CSK) chief executive officer Kasi Viswanathan recently confirmed that MS Dhoni will feature in the next two editions of Indian Premier League, resting the speculations that the veteran wicketkeeper is in no mood to play competitive cricket.
"We can expect MS Dhoni to be part of both (IPL 2020 and 2021) and probably for even the next year, 2022," Viswanathan told India Today.
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The IPL 2020, which was plunged into uncertainty with COVID-19 outbreak wreaking havoc in India, is now all set to be held in UAE from September 19 to November 10. Provided the pandemic eases and normalcy returns in the sporting world, the 14th edition of the T20 league will be played in April-May 2021.
Since IPL 13 and IPL 14 will be staged in a span of less than 6 months, Dhoni can still make the much-anticipated India return.
Notably, Dhoni was last seen in action during India’s World Cup 2019 campaign and former opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra reckons the ex-India skipper might not want to play for the country again.
As per Chopra, Dhoni's presence will not be so important for India's campaign at the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in India in October-November next year.
"I think we can manage without him, let's be honest. Because we are talking about 2021. It is in India and you definitely want Dhoni to be there in the team and want him to play," Aakash said while addressing a fan's question on his YouTube show #AskAakash.
"However, the first thing, does Dhoni want to play? I have been saying this like a broken record I feel he doesn't want to play.
"Even if he is available, we are talking about 2021, It is still more than a year to go. So, we have to get used to managing without him and I think we will get used to it by then.
"So I feel his presence is not so important that if he is not there you won't go on to win the World Cup."
MS Dhoni recently hit the nets back home in Ranchi as he practised in an indoor academy. He is expected to be a part of CSK’s five-day training camp at Chepauk, starting August 16 and will depart with the team for UAE on August 21.
