The IPL 2023 is slated to begin in the last week of March. For that, the auction will is set to take place in mid-December. The BCCI and the IPL governing council has already told the 10 franchises to announce their list of retained and released players by mid-November.
The IPL 2023 will also be a turning-page moment in the history of the IPL. The reason for that is many players who have accomplished plenty in the league are likely to make the IPL 2023 as their swansong, handing the baton to the younger generation. A new era will commence in the league from 2024.
In this article, we look at 5-star IPL players for whom the IPL 2023 is likely to be the last of their careers:
MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni is all but certain to bid adieu to the IPL after the IPL 2023. The Chennai Super Kings, who had handed the captaincy duties to Ravindra Jadeja but was given it back mid-season, confirmed that he will play next year so that he could bid farewell to every venue in the country, and said he wanted to play at the Chepauk, in front of the Chennai crowd, for one more season.
A 4-time IPL winning captain, MS Dhoni will be 42 next year. So it seems that he will most probably retire after IPL 2023.
Dwayne Bravo
Another CSK stalwart who is likely to move away from the IPL after next season is Dwayne Bravo – the current leading-wicket taker in the history of the tournament with 183 scalps to his name.
Bravo retired from international cricket last year, and now only plays selectively in the T20 leagues. The all-rounder turned 39 recently, and being a pacer it is already a great feat that he’s still playing and is in demand in the T20 circuit. But with aging and injury concerns, Bravo is unlikely to play in IPL beyond next year.
Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan, who will turn 37 in early December, is part of only India’s ODI team and doesn’t regularly plays domestic cricket either. The 2023 World Cup, should he make it, is likely to be Dhawan’s last international tournament with India moving on from Dhawan, and perhaps other seniors.
Given that he isn’t expected to be part of India’s ODI team after the 2023 World Cup, and that Indian men’s cricketers can’t play in overseas leagues without quitting all cricket under BCCI, including the IPL, Dhawan may decide to leave the IPL and embark on a journey in the franchise circuit.
Dhawan is an IPL great, having amassed 6243 runs – second, only behind Virat Kohli – in 206 matches so far, notching up 47 fifties and 2 centuries. He was a crucial part of the SRH team that won the title in 2016.
Dinesh Karthik
37-year-old Dinesh Karthik made a comeback in the Indian team and was picked in the T20 World Cup squad. It was an inspirational comeback, but is likely to end post the T20 WC, irrespective of how he performs as the selectors and management would want to build the team for the future, that is the 2024 T20 WC.
As mentioned above, like Dhawan, Karthik might also foray into the world of T20 cricket across the globe, for that he’d have to quit the IPL. Plus with his age, which will be 38 by the time the IPL 2023 finishes, and his super-specialty role of a finisher, it is a doubt whether IPL teams will want him in the side just to play in the last few overs.
Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard is a legend in the IPL, having helped Mumbai Indians win 5 trophies. Pollard has scored 3412 runs at a strike rate of 147, and at his best, he was a fearful force. However, the 35-year-old had a poor IPL 2022 – average of 14 and a strike rate of 107, and was even dropped mid-season, replaced as the finisher by Tim David, and also retired from international cricket during the IPL.
It will also be a bold call if MI even retain him for IPL 2023. Even if MI keep him, his poor form and age might mean he doesn’t get to play many matches. And it is difficult to see teams – MI or any other franchise – wanting to have him post IPL 2023, despite his experience and achievements.
