Almost Confirmed Now That MS Dhoni Won't Play In IPL 2023 - Aakash Chopra

Former India opener Aakash Chopra said that after Chennai Super Kings dropped the bombshell on Thursday that MS Dhoni has handed over the captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the IPL 2022 season, it is more or less confirmed that Dhoni will not play in the next edition of the tournament in 2023.

MS Dhoni has captained Chennai Super Kings for over 200 matches in the Indian Premier League and holds a winning percentage of almost 60%. To put the cherry on the top, he has won the IPL title four times for the Chennai Super Kings, which came in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021. Apart from this, CSK ended up as runners-up five times as well, including the first-ever IPL season in 2008.

In a similar manner as Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020, he continued this trend as he announced his exit from CSK captaincy in an inimitable fashion. But his decision to hand over the CSK leadership to Jadeja raises questions over his IPL future.

Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel shared his views on the same.

He said: “MS Dhoni has declared that he is no longer the king and he will now only be a person in the kingdom who’ll serve the king. But the reality is that he is the king and the captain. He is the king of CSK. It is almost confirmed now that he won’t play next year.

Earlier this year too, I’m sure he did not want the franchise to retain him as spending money on retaining him would not have made the team stronger, as he may not be there for next season. This is why he asked Jadeja to be the first retainee, as he might not stay if he is not given ₹16 crore.”

MS Dhoni has not missed a single season of IPL and there was only one edition of the tournament where he didn’t captain a franchise, which was in IPL 2017 when Steve Smith was named captain of the Rising Pune Supergiant, after Dhoni had led the team in IPL 2016.

I Don’t Think He Won’t Take A Break And He Will Play All The Matches: Aakash Chopra

Chopra, who himself played in the IPL 2008 for Kolkata Knight Riders, said that the wicketkeeper-batter won’t dictate the proceedings unless his captain asks him for help. He also felt that Dhoni will not take a break and might play all the matches in IPL 2021.

“When MS Dhoni is not the captain, he becomes non-intrusive. He will only talk when needed or when you go to him. He’s is not someone who’ll walk up to you and impose his opinions. He prefers to be on the sidelines until someone walks up to him for advice.

I’ll miss him at the tosses and his comments during the post-match presentations. Even when the presenters ask tricky questions, he dodges them well with his words. I don’t think he won’t take a break and he will play all the matches,” Chopra said further.

CSK will face off against KKR in the IPL 2022 opener in Mumbai on March 26.

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