Former England captain Kevin Pietersen believes that MS Dhoni can play for more seasons in the IPL with the Impact Player rule in place.
There are hard speculations about the IPL 2023 being the last season of MS Dhoni, however, the CSK captain has remained mostly mum about it; he only once hinted that he hasn’t decided about retirement when commentator Danny Morrison nudged him.
Kevin Pietersen was left awestruck with the atmosphere it was in Chennai on Sunday evening when CSK played KKR in Chepauk. This was the last league phase game in Chepauk, and it could also be the last game Mahendra Singh Dhoni ever plays in Chepauk if CSK do not qualify for playoffs – the first two playoff matches will be held in Chennai, and CSK are not yet confirmed of a top 4 spot.
Will MS Dhoni retire in IPL 2023?
Kevin Pietersen suggested that Mahendra Singh Dhoni doesn’t need to retire this season and can use the Impact Player rule to just come out and bat in his lower-order position. The Englishman also hailed the CSK captain’s elite fitness – Dhoni has been playing with a knee injury throughout the tournament but hasn’t missed a single game yet – and captaincy skills.
“With the Impact Player rule, 10 years is left in him. He can keep (wickets). He is fit enough to keep. Doesn’t bat a lot, but hits a couple of sixes. Marshals his troops so beautifully,” Kevin Pietersen said on-air while commentating during CSK’s innings.
“That’s why it’s so intimidating. That’s why it’s so difficult to beat this team here. It’s an atmosphere like none other anywhere in the world,” Pietersen told Star Sports after CSK posted 144/6 on a spinning pitch.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s close friend and former India and CSK teammate Suresh Raina had earlier said that Dhoni told him he will continue playing next year as well.
“Wo to keh rahe hain main trophy jeetke ek saal aur khelunga (After winning the trophy, I will play one more year),” Raina said last month.
Talking about the match, CSK posted 144 runs on the board courtesy of 30 from Devon Conway and 48* from Shivam Dube. KKR had a bad start and they slipped to 33/3. After that, however, left-handers Rinku Singh and skipper Nitish Rana took the mantle into their own hands with a partnership of 99 runs which all but saw KKR home.
Speaking about the points table, CSK remain at the second position in the points table with 15 points in 13 matches while KKR are at 7th position with 12 points in 13 games.
CSK’s playoff qualification is still in their own hands: they will qualify for playoffs if they win their last league game and reach 17 points. For KKR, they can only reach 14 points and need a spate of other results to go their way.
