Deepak Chahar, the Indian all-rounder, suggests that MS Dhoni, the former skipper leading the IPL team Chennai Super Kings (CSK), should refrain from taking on responsibilities as he nears the twilight of his career. Chahar’s remarks emerge as the IPL 2024 season looms, stirring speculations about Dhoni’s retirement. Notably, Dhoni guided CSK to their fifth IPL title in 2023, matching a record.
“At this stage of his career, he shouldn’t burden himself with responsibilities. He should relish this phase and avoid shouldering pressure for the team. Dhoni has nurtured many cricketers like Ravindra Jadeja and others who are well-equipped to handle such roles,” Chahar conveyed during an interaction with the news agency PTI.
Dhoni, who encountered a knee injury last season, hinted at extending his playing career post the final victory. Chahar disclosed that Dhoni had informed everyone about his intention to conclude his career after one final match in Chennai.
“He has been recuperating well,” Chahar commented on Dhoni’s recovery from the knee injury. “Personally, I believe he should continue playing for another couple of years. However, the decision lies with him. He had mentioned about playing his farewell game in Chennai. His absence would be deeply felt in the CSK squad, as Mahi bhai has been an integral part of the team,” Chahar expressed.
The all-rounder further shared that he withdrew from India’s tour of South Africa in December 2023 due to his father’s brain stroke. Consequently, Chahar opted out of the Afghanistan T20Is as he wasn’t match-fit. “I stayed by my father’s side in the hospital for 25 days while he was admitted in Aligarh. We were all there together,” he explained.
“During that period, I could only manage some exercises and couldn’t engage in cricketing activities, which rendered me unfit for the Afghanistan series. Following that, I resumed training at the NCA and regained full fitness. Now, I am in optimal condition and have trained extensively for both the IPL and the World Cup,” Chahar elaborated.
Chahar remains a part of India’s plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in the USA and West Indies in June later this year.