"I once asked MS Dhoni when to retire?"- Mohammed Shami's shocking revelation
Published - 21 Jul 2024, 11:30 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:16 AM
Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami recently revealed legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni's strategy on retirement from competitive cricket. Mohammed Shami stated MS that Dhoni believes a player should retire when he no longer enjoys the game or when he senses he might be dropped from the team.
MS Dhoni's retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a major topic of discussion over the past years. The former Indian skipper announced his retirement from international cricket in August 2020. However, the veteran batter still plays for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League.
Dhoni did not reveal any retirement plans after the IPL 2024. The Chennai Super Kings failed to make it to the playoffs after losing their last league match to RCB. The Qualifier 2 and final matches, scheduled to be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium, would have been a fitting venue for Dhoni's potential farewell.
It's A Sign That Your Time Has Come - Mohammed Shami
Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast, Mohammed Shami revealed MS Dhoni's retirement strategy. Shami emphasized that a player should choose the best moment to retire based on their enjoyment and physical condition.
"You [media] guys have been putting a question mark on his future the man himself says, ‘Dekha Jayega’ [let’s see]," Shami told Shubhankar Mishra.
"I had this conversation with Mahi bhai, asking ‘When should a player retire?”. He said, ‘First when you yourself get bored and second, Jab lage ki laat padne wali hai (when you realise that you would be kicked out of the team).’
"But the first and foremost thing is that when you stop enjoying the game, it’s a sign that your time has come. Better you choose the best moment to retire. Because your body starts intimating you if you can’t sustain a particular format. That’s when a player should call it time," he added.
MS Dhoni is regarded as one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batters. He amassed 17,266 runs at an average of 44.96 across all international formats, including 16 centuries and 108 fifties. Dhoni guided India to the number one Test ranking and secured victories in the ICC T20 World Cup 2007, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
The wicketkeeper-batter scored 10,773 runs in 350 ODI matches at an average of 50.57, with 10 centuries and 73 fifties. The 43-year-old batter led the Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles. Dhoni played under Ruturaj Gaikwad’s captaincy in the 2024 IPL season. The CSK team missed the playoffs by net run rate, finishing fifth with seven wins and seven losses.
Dhoni, batting lower down the order, scored 161 runs in 11 innings at an average of 53.66 and a strike rate of 220.54. With mega auctions set for IPL 2025, Dhoni is expected to decide on his cricketing future based on the strategies for the upcoming season.
