Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in his trademark style, did not give a clear indication about his swansong but said he might take that call before next year’s Indian Premier League season, depending on how his body fares over the next 6-8 months.
“That’s the love and affection I have gotten throughout. Not to forget, I’m 43 and I have played for a long time,” Dhoni said referring to the warm reception and cheers he received from the Eden Gardens crowd.
“They (the fans) don’t know when it will be my last year. It is a fact that I play only two months a year. After this gets over, I have to work for another 6-8 months to see if my body is able to take this kind of pressure. Nothing to decide as of now, but the love and affection I get everywhere is excellent,” he said after ’s 2-wicket win over the on Wednesday.
Dhoni, who has struggled with the bat this season, scoring 180 runs in 12 matches, stayed unbeaten on 17, hitting a six in the final over to bring CSK close to the 180-run target set by the defending champions. The veteran also made an impact behind the stumps when he stumped Sunil Narine and then snapped up a nick off Angkrish Raghuvanshi to become the first wicketkeeper to get 200 dismissals in IPL history.
Dhoni lauded South Africa’s Dewald Brevis, who was the main architect of the victory with a blistering half-century, in which he smashed 30 runs off an over by Vaibhav Arora. Dhoni also revealed the chat he had with when he came out to bat during the run chase.
“You have to keep their spinners out of the game. Thanks to Brevis, he gave us that luxury (to take the match deep). Did not want to give wickets to Sunil (Narine) and Varun (Chakaravarthy). It was holding for the spinners, but for the pacers, it was not that great and difficult for them to get away. This is not a big ground, I said take it slightly to the end. Not to forget, I was the last batter, that was the thinking. He (Dube) played calculated shots and hit two sixes and that brought the rate down,” Dhoni said.
, who are already eliminated, will next play and while , who are also almost out of playoff contention, take on and .
