IPL 2022: MS Dhoni Can Continue Playing IPL, He Is Certainly Turning Up For CSK: Matthew Hayden

Former Australia opener and Chennai Super Kings star Matthew Hayden said MS Dhoni is positively coming out for the 4-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions and that the 40-year-old wicketkeeper-hitter can keep playing the IPL assuming he expects to.

Hayden’s remarks came after CSK were killed from the race for the playoff games in IPL 2022 after their 5-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, May 12.

Speculation is overflowing about Dhoni’s future in the IPL, considering he will be 41 when the next year’s edition of the competition will occur.

MS Dhoni Can Play For As Long As He Wants: Matthew Hayden

Dhoni resigned from international cricket however he has kept on playing IPL for CSK. He has been in amazing form for CSK in IPL 2022 in spite of the 4-time champions being unable to string a progression of wins. The skipper has scored 199 runs at an average of more than 30 and a strike rate of 130 this season.

Wondering about Dhoni’s capacity to run between the wickets and keep himself fit, Hayden said the CSK’s captain’s longevity in an excellent competition like the IPL is spectacular.

“How fast he is running between the wickets, my goodness! This is a guy that has really gone beyond the age of a normal athlete within a competition of this level. Good on him. If he wants to keep playing, he can because he is certainly turning up for his team,” Hayden told Star Sports.

In spite of Dhoni venturing down as skipper toward the beginning of IPL 2022, he was taken a gander at as the focal figure at CSK. 8 matches into the season, Ravindra Jadeja, who was given over control 2 days before the competition, ventured down from the job, giving back the captaincy to Dhoni.

Dhoni has seen ease, driving the side with the same excitement and energy that he has shown throughout the long term.

MS Dhoni Important From A Leadership Point Of View: Matthew Hayden

Hayden said having a created individual like Dhoni and building a group around him seems OK for CSK.

“It’s so important from a leadership point of view that you have someone like an MSD at the helm.

“Just having the certainty that you can pick someone in the team and then go through picking the rest of the team. That confidence he brings to the team, it’s all the things we love about MSD,” Hayden said.

Dhoni top-scored for CSK on Thursday with a 36 not out yet his work was insufficient as the reigning champs were bowled out for only 97 out of 16 overs. CSK started off very well with the ball, getting 4 wickets in the powerplay, yet a 48-run stand between Tilak Varma and Hrithik Shokken assisted MI with going past the target.

CSK are still on the ninth spot on the IPL 2022 points table with 8 points from 12 matches.

Also Read: CSK vs MI: ‘It Was A Little Bit Unlucky’- Stephen Fleming On Power Cut At Wankhede