(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Chennai Super Kings (CSK) premier fast bowler Deepak Chahar has expressed optimism about his captain MS Dhoni’s cricketing future, suggesting that the latter could extend his career for another two-three IPL seasons.
Dhoni, who got retained by CSK for IPL 2024, is poised to make a resounding comeback in the upcoming season of the league. This follows CSK’s triumphant victory in the IPL for the fifth time in history, clinching the title against Gujarat Titans in the final last year.
Despite battling a knee injury throughout the entire season, Dhoni underwent successful surgery in June and is now geared up to lead his team in the brand new edition of the tournament.
While speculations are still revolving around Dhoni’s retirement, Chahar’s insights offer a different perspective, emphasising Thala’s resilience and potential longevity in the sport.
“I think he has a lot to give to cricket. He can play for another 2-3 seasons. I have seen him bat in the nets. Obviously, he had an injury that anyone can have, people at 24 have that same injury that he has,” Chahar said as quoted to PTI.
“He has recovered well. For me personally, he should play for another 2-3 years. But it’s his call. He told everyone he was going to play his last game in Chennai. I think he will only decide,” he added.
Acknowledging Dhoni’s leadership impact, Chahar expressed the difficulty of imagining CSK without their iconic skipper. He emphasized Dhoni’s pivotal role in shaping the team’s identity, stating, “For us, it will be very difficult to play for CSK without him. Everyone has (always) seen CSK with Mahi bhai.”
Reflecting on his own journey, Chahar credited Dhoni for his international debut in T20Is in 2018. He described Dhoni as an elder brother, highlighting the camaraderie they share both on and off the field. During the lockdown, the duo spent time playing PUBG and other games, fostering a bond that Chahar values.
“It took me 2-3 years to get comfortable around him Dhoni. I see him as an elder brother and I think he treats me as a younger brother.
“We have our fun moments. During lockdown, we played a lot of PUBG together. We played a lot of games together. We spent a lot of time together off the field. I’ve been lucky to learn so much from him. I would say because of him only I got a chance to play for India because, before that, he gave me a really big chance to play all 14 games in IPL. In 2018, I played all the 14 games,” Chahar concluded.