"MS knows what he is going to do"- Eric Simons on MS Dhoni's future in IPL

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowling consultant Eric Simons dismissed speculation about MS Dhoni's future following the recent loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Eric Simons highlighted MS Dhoni's ability to deliver crucial performances and instill self-belief in the team.

The Super Kings suffered a heartbreaking loss in their last league match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, May 18. The visiting team failed to chase down a 219-run target against the Royal Challengers. The defending champions managed to score 191 runs for the loss of seven wickets.

MS Dhoni scored 25 runs off 13 balls, including three boundaries and one six. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter smashed a six off the final over when 17 runs were needed to qualify. However, Dhoni was dismissed by Yash Dayal on the second ball. The CSK team managed to score just one run off the last four balls.

MS Dhoni Brings To The Group Is The Incredible - Eric Simons

Eric Simons shared his admiration for MS Dhoni's impact on the team. Simons emphasized Dhoni's simple yet profound understanding of the game. The CSK bowling consultant lauded Dhoni for his role in imparting valuable knowledge and insights to his teammates.

"There are so many memories of MS Dhoni, the knocks that he plays get you out of trouble. I was in the dugout and said it was incredible we are in a situation with our backs against the wall and he is at the wicket you just don't stop believing he can win for you, So I think that is one of the things that he brings to the group is the incredible self-belief."

"But he has a very simple structure and understanding of the game. I think that's what a lot of cricketers should strive for to, really understand the game and he does and he helps guys with that sort of information and knowledge so it is not to play like MS but understand your game and that's where MS is tremendous," Simons said after the game.

Anybody Wants To Speculate About His Future - Eric Simons

Simons opened up about the speculation surrounding MS Dhoni's future and expressed confidence in the former CSK skipper's ability to make the right decision for himself. Simons highlighted Dhoni's consistent performance and positive impact on the team.

"But I think anybody wants to speculate about his future, that is crazy. MS knows what he is going to do. I know that this year I have seen him hit the ball from the pre-tournament camp. So he is playing extremely well and he will make the decision. But he is a fantastic guy to be around. He has been fantastic to witness from the days I was with India and now with CSK," Simons added.

MS Dhoni stepped down from the captaincy before the start of the ongoing tournament. The veteran cricketer batted lower down the order throughout the tournament. He scored 161 runs with an average of 53.67 and a strike rate of 220.55. With the mega auction later this year, this could be Dhoni's last IPL season.

The 42-year-old is sixth among the IPL's all-time highest scorers, having scored 5243 runs in 264 matches at an average of 39.12 and a strike rate of 137.53. He achieved 24 half-centuries with a top score of 84*. Additionally, Dhoni led the Yellow Army to five IPL titles in a row.

Also read: Rinku Singh reacts after Yash Dayal defends RCB's hopes against MS Dhoni and CSK