May 29, 2023 – Chennai Super Kings have just defeated Gujarat Titans in a thrilling match to claim the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) title. After the breathtaking game, spectators watched MS Dhoni’s signature celebrations lift Ravindra Jadeja, who won the match for his team in style won. The sound at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was almost deafening as Dhoni guided CSK to a record-equalling fifth IPL title, but the hint of melancholy was unmissable. Multiple media reports and insiders predict that Dhoni is ready to call it a day but the audience is not ready to bid farewell to the legend of modern football. The crowd was filled with anticipation when Dhoni spoke in his post-match speech, but to their delight, he announced that he would be playing next season as a ‘gift’ to all the fans. The stadium approved the decision with jubilation and a farewell tour in 2024 is a bit troublesome for CSK.

The IPL 2024 season kicked off with Dhoni resigning as CSK captain ahead of the match and Ruturaj Gaikwad taking over the role. Ravindra Jadeja had earlier tried unsuccessfully to replace Dhoni as CSK captain in 2022 but the support from fans and team management made one thing clear Thing – Gaikwad is the choice for the future and this time the entire “yellow army” is supporting him.

However, the discussion about how much impact Dhoni will have on the field has not stopped. Dhoni is known as one of the master tacticians of the game and he has proven in the past that he has the ability to change any game with his acumen alone. As a result, the talk never stopped, even leading some pundits to loudly question the extent to which Gaikwad will be able to exercise control over the team.

While captain Dhoni was coaching the team, batsman Dhoni was missing. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman has assumed the role of a finisher in 2023 and with a strike rate of over 180, his impact is very evident. He came out to bat in difficult situations and hit the explosive hits that the team needed, and most importantly, it made him famous at the beginning of his career.

However, the use of Dhoni as a batsman in IPL 2024 has been a mystery for experts and fans alike. He did not bat in the first two games and came on in the third game behind Ravindra Jadeja and Sameer Rizvi. Chasing a target of 192, Dhoni batted late and despite scoring 37 runs off 16 balls, the pressure was a bit too much and his team fell short of the target by 20 runs. This is in direct contradiction to his performance in 2023 – a season in which he emerged as the team’s top closer.

The next few games saw Jadeja once again take the lead over Dhoni, and while the crowd’s reaction was no different in these instances, one question lingered – Tara was there when the team needed him. where? Over the years, Dhoni has batted from No. 3 to No. 7 depending on where his team needs him, but at No. 8 for CSK, he just didn’t get enough time to showcase his devastating knock. ball.

In the modern game, more and more teams are looking for wicketkeepers who can actively contribute to their team’s batting. Lucknow Supergiants also have KL Rahul, Quinton De Kock and Nicholas Pooran, while Rajasthan Royals will also pick Dhruv Jurel and Jos Buttler. In contrast, CSK has not registered any other wicketkeeping option apart from Dhoni on its official website. Dhoni’s injury could pose a major problem as Devon Conway is currently unavailable and young Aravili Awanish Rao seems to be the only possible option for the role.

While CSK might benefit from an “expert leader” like Dhoni, even a mentor role would be acceptable for the superstar. CSK has started the 2024 season well, but Dhoni’s role in the team has left some pundits and fans scratching their heads. When Dhoni took a rather simple catch against the Kolkata Knight Riders, it was by no means a stain on Dhoni’s illustrious career, but it was something Indicative of a bigger question – will the farewell tour become a problem for CSK?