"MS Dhoni will be available for CSK next year.."- Kasi Viswanath puts an end to rumours

Has MS Dhoni's career as a player in the IPL finally come to an end? This is the question that has become the talk of the town ever since the Chennai Super Kings campaign in the ongoing IPL 2024 came to an end.

Many believed that the former India skipper would finally hang his boots this season. After leading CSK to a record-equaling fifth IPL title last year, MS Dhoni hinted that he would bring down curtains on his illustrious career after playing at least one more season for the sake of the fans.

Circumstantially if you see, this is the best time to announce my retirement. But the amount of love and affection I have been shown wherever I have been this year, the easy thing would be for me to say "Thank you very much", but the tough thing for me is to work hard for another 9 months and come back and play at least 1 more season of IPL," MS Dhoni had said after the final last year.

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"A lot depends on the body, I have 6-7 months to decide. It will be more like a gift from my side, it's not easy for me but that's a gift. The way they've shown their love and affection, I think that's something I need to do for them," he had added.

With the IPL 2024 final to be played in Chennai, many expected MS Dhoni to have a fairytale farewell by winning the tournament in front of the home crowd. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman further added fuel to the fire by stepping down as the captain just before the start of the ongoing season.

Also Read: CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan burns Mumbai Indians on captaincy transition in IPL 2024

However, CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs and exited the tournament at the league stage. While they finished the league stage with 14 points, the same number of points as Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the latter qualified because of their better net run rate.

Will MS Dhoni play in the IPL next year?

As soon as CSK's campaign ended, MS Dhoni's future became the major talking point once again. Many believe that the former CSK skipper's career has finally ended in the IPL. And while there is very little clarity on the 42-year-old's future as of now, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has delivered an update on the same.

In a recent interview, Viswanathan made it clear that although he has no idea about Dhoni's future in the IPL as a player, he expects him to play next year. The CSK CEO stated that the franchise has left the decision to Dhoni himself before saying that the team is still hopeful of his availability for at least the next season.

"I do not know. It's a question which only MS can answer. See, the question for us is, we've always respected the decisions taken by MS. We've left it to him. And as all of you know, he has always taken the decisions and announced them at the appropriate time.

"We do expect that we will get a decision as and when he decides. But we are very, very hopeful that he will be available for CSK next year. That is the view and the expectations of fans and me. That's the case," said Viswanathan.