Icon Dhoni gears up for 18th IPL at age of 43

All eyes are on MS Dhoni, who continues to command superstar status in Indian cricket despite his 2020 international retirement.

Dhoni continues to play a significant role in the world’s richest cricket league.

Along with him are seasoned pros like Rishabh Pant, Yashaswi Jaiswal, and pace bowlers like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as well as rising stars like Shubhman Gill and Jashaswi Jaiswal. They are just two of the players who helped India win two ICC titles over the past nine months, the Champions Trophy last month and the T20 World Cup in June.

However, Dhoni continues to captivate fans with his leadership and presence in the league, which still commands unmatched attention.

The 44-year-old cricketer will play his 18th IPL season in a row for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which he will play for 16 of. He is the tournament’s oldest player this year, but not the oldest to have participated in the IPL.

When he last played in the IPL for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Brad Hogg, 45 years and 92 days, was the last Australian spin bowler. The oldest debutant for the Rajasthan Royals, wing-spinner Pravin Tambe, who was 41 years and 212 days old, completed his remarkable career in 2019 at 44 years and 219 days.

Dhoni is sixth in the IPL all-time run list, currently topped by Kohli, with 5 243 runs scored in 18 IPL seasons.

His career batting average of 39.12 is higher than that of Rohit Sharma and Kohli, and he leads league players with more than 5, 000 runs, only behind David Warner (40.52) and AB de Villiers (39.70).

Among players with over 5, 000 runs, Dhoni’s strike rate of 137.53 ranks behind only de Villiers (151.68) and Warner (139.77).

In sixes, Dhoni (252) trails only Gayle (357), Sharma (280) and Kohli (272).

These batting stats only highlight one aspect of Dhoni’s skill. He has a record of 180 dismissals as a wicketkeeper (141 catches and 39 stumpings), which is unmatched by anyone. His quick reflexes and skillful glovework earned him the nickname “pickpocket” from Ravi Shastri, a former Indian coach.

His signature batting prowess was the “helicopter shot,” a flick-drive played over midwicket with a wrist-flex of the bottom hand.

In addition to leading CSK to five IPL titles and two Champions League titles, Dhoni holds the record for most wins and most IPL victories as a captain (221).

Additionally, he won the T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup (2011), and Champions Trophy (2013) as India’s top individual player.

Additionally, having played 90 Test matches and helped India reach No1 in the ICC before his unexpected mid-series exit in 2014-15, his impact on the game is significant.

Sunil Gavaskar and Shastri, former Indian captains, have frequently praised him as one of the country’s greatest cricketers ever. Although it is open for discussion, it is now widely known that Dhoni belongs to the same group as Sachin Tendulkar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Kapil Dev.

What does he expect from him in the upcoming season?

Dhoni could soon accept the impact player rule, which allows teams to select an additional specialist batter or bowler based on the game situation, while also serving as a non-designated informal sounding board for the captain and mentor to the squad.

Dhoni’s inclusion in CSK’s squad is a no-brainer. His appeal extends beyond CSK fans, bringing significant branding and commercial benefits to both the franchise and the IPL. An IPL without Dhoni is “unthinkable,” as CSK puts it.

Ravi Shastri refutes this claim, saying that it may limit opportunities for young players from both India and abroad. “The league operates in a free-market environment.” He claims that French franchise owners are not sentimental because they are “knowing what’s best for them both on and off the field.”

Rivals are being warned by former India opener Robin Uthappa, who has played for both India and CSK, to write off Dhoni at their own risk. Some of the magic from the past could still be seen.