Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the draw and chose to fight against Gujarat Titans in his Indian Premier League match on Sunday, in what could potentially be his last match in the T20 League. Addressing Ravi Shastri at the time of the draw, Dhoni answered delicate questions around his physical well-being, the ability to play cricket at the age of 43. Although Shastri did not ask directly if it would be the last season of Dhoni in the IPL, the CSK icon decided to leave an index itself.
“My body survives. Each year is a new challenge. It needs a lot of maintenance. This is the last step in my career. I don’t have enough problem when I was playing international cricket,” said Dhoni after winning the draw and chosen to beat first.
Although Dhoni did not say specifically if he would come back to play for CSK next season, he admitted being in the last step.
“He (pitch) looks nice and hard, thinks that he will remain the same throughout the 40 overs. It is quite hot, looks like a good track. It is (his body) surviving. Each year is a new challenge. He needs a lot of maintenance. I have not bored the cricket enough. We have a change.
A victory is crucial in this competition for GT, which so far has 18 points of 13 games with nine victories, as it will help them to guarantee a finish among the first two for the IPL qualifying series.
For CSK, it will be another opportunity to test young talents.
Gujarat titans: Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Gerald Coetzee, Ravisrinivasan Sai Krishore.
Chennai Super Kings: Ayush Mhatre, Devon Conway, Urvil Patel, Ravi will Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, Ms Dhoni (C & WK), Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed.
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