New Delhi : Amid growing speculation over whether MS Dhoni could make an emotional farewell appearance for Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the legendary wicketkeeper is unlikely to take the field against Sunrisers Hyderabad in what could potentially be CSK’s final home game of the season.
With CSK fighting to stay alive in the playoff race and no further matches scheduled in Chennai this season, speculation around Dhoni’s retirement has intensified.
Fans have been hoping for one last appearance from the five-time IPL-winning captain, especially given a remark he made during CSK’s IPL title celebrations in 2021, when he hinted that he wanted his final T20 game to be played in Chennai.
Five years later, the timeline appears to have aligned perfectly.
But Gavaskar feels emotions are unlikely to influence Dhoni’s decision, particularly considering the former India skipper has not played competitive cricket for over a year.
“The match against SRH is a crucial one for CSK. It’s their last home game at Chepauk, so naturally fans want to see MS Dhoni play. But he hasn’t featured at all this season. In fact, he hasn’t played competitive cricket for over a year. So, I doubt he would want to take such a risk at this stage,” Gavaskar told JioStar.
The batting great also stressed that CSK, currently in a must-win situation, would prioritise players who are already match-ready and in rhythm.
“You need players who have been match-fit and playing regularly for the last six weeks. Dhoni is a complete team-man. I don’t think he would want to disrupt the current combination. I would be very surprised if he plays against SRH.
“This is a must-win game for CSK. A victory keeps them alive in the playoff race. They have to win this match at all costs, and bringing in a player who hasn’t played in over a year could be a gamble,” he added.
Dhoni’s comments from 2021 have now resurfaced amid the emotional build-up around the fixture.
“I have always planned my cricket. The last game I played was in Ranchi. The last home game in ODI was at my hometown in Ranchi. So, hopefully, my last T20 will be in Chennai. Whether it’s next year or in five years’ time, we don’t really know,” Dhoni had said at the time.
With the five-year window effectively ending tonight and Chepauk preparing for an emotionally charged evening, many believe this could be the final time the Chennai crowd sees Dhoni associated with a home game in CSK colours, whether he takes the field or not.
