IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings has made it clear that Captain Cool MS Dhoni will lead the side in Indian Premier League 2023. However, there is not any clear indication whether Dhoni will continue as the captain of the team after the 2023 edition.
“Obviously everybody knows that Thalaivan (MS Dhoni) is the one who is going to lead the side and he will do his best and the team will do well,” said CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan.
However, fans are eager to know about Dhoni’s future in the cash-rich league.
Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha believes that CSK should begin looking for Dhoni’s replacement if the legendary Indian cricketer decides to retire after the next IPL season.
“Till the time MS Dhoni is playing, there can’t be a different captain. It became all the more clear last year. Whatever I know of CSK, if this is Dhoni’s last year, they would want to pass on the captaincy to an individual who can do the role for the next 5-6 years and brings stability to the team,” Ojha said.
Ojha even praised CSK for looking for a long-term captaincy option because the franchise operates like a blue-chip team.
“CSK is one such team who does not believe in a lot of changes and hence would look for a long-term captain. CSK is like a blue-chip team and not like a day trading one,” Ojha added.
If Ojha’s statement is an indication about Dhoni’s retirement after IPL 2023, reports in some sections of media also substantiates it. As per reports, Dhoni will retire from IPL after the 2023 edition. Moreover, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have decided to offer the former India captain a spot in the Team India’s coaching staff to instill a fearless approach in the team.
Notably, Dhoni’s CSK, 4-time IPL champions, failed to qualify for the IPL playoff stage last season. Picked as Dhoni’s ideal successor, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja chose to step down from the captaincy post following CSK’s disastrous league run the previous season. Last season, the Jadeja-led CSK lost six of their eight league matches. After Jadeja decided to relinquish captaincy in order to focus more on his individual performance, Dhoni was reinstated as the leader of the Yellow Brigade.