Doubts remain whether MS Dhoni will return to play another season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but Dhoni's close friend and former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) teammate Suresh Raina wants the legend to hand-hold Ruturaj Gaikwad for another season to teach him captaincy skills.
Dhoni handed over the CSK captaincy to Gaikwad ahead of IPL 2024.
Talking to 'Sports Tak', Raina said Dhoni's batting during the last edition of the IPL left little doubt that he has another season left in him.
"I want MS Dhoni to play in
IPL 2025
, considering how he batted last year. I feel Ruturaj Gaikwad needs one more year, the way he captained and a lot of things were said after the loss to RCB (Royal Challengers Bengaluru). However, Ruturaj has done a great job," said Raina, who announced his international retirement on August 15, 2020, within hours after Dhoni did the same.
But while Raina has also quit the IPL, Dhoni continues to play.
Dhoni, who was troubled by a knee injury during the last IPL season, batted lower down the order in the role of a finisher and played some blazing cameos. He aggregated 161 runs in 14 matches and scored at a strike rate of 220.25.
The IPL will hold a mega players' auction ahead of the 2025 season, and Dhoni is playing wait and watch till the auction rules on player retention are announced, after which he is expected to reveal his decision on whether to continue playing or bid the league adieu.
“We have to see what decision they take on player retention, etc...So once the rules and regulations get formalised, I will take a call, but it needs to be in the best interest of the team (CSK),” Dhoni had said earlier.
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