MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have lost three consecutive games in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and are now at the bottom of the table.
MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have lost three consecutive games in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and are now at the bottom of the table.
The last time CSK faced a situation like this was way back in 2014. The three-time champions have reached the knock-out stages in every tournament that they have featured in.
However, is the situation this time around different?
Dhoni in CSK's defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 7-runs, could not manage to take his side home.
Dhoni - considered to be one of the fittest cricketers in the world - despite being 39 years old was also seen struggling in the searing heat in UAE.
So was heat the cause or is the captain cool showing signs of ageing?
1. Dhoni stayed unbeaten on 47 runs off 36 balls - but looked uneasy
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Dhoni - who stayed unbeaten on 47 runs off 36 balls - was seen struggling in the searing heat in UAE.
He talked about the situation after the match and said that his throat had got dry so he started to cough.
“I tried to get as much time as possible. It is quite dry out here. So, the throat gets dry and you start to cough. When you have legal signs, you can take some time off.”
Dhoni also added that he was trying to hit the ball too hard when timing the ball was a better option against SRH.
“I was not able to middle a lot of deliveries. Was trying to hit it too hard. When the wicket is slightly at the slower side, it is better to time it. Looking at outfield it was subconsciously coming to us to hit the ball hard,” Dhoni said after his side’s defeat.
2. 'MS Dhoni showing no signs of ageing' - Suresh Raina
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Ahead of the IPL, during the CSK training camp in India, Dhoni and Raina were sweating it out, before the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country which led to the lockdown.
Raina, however, who got to play with Dhoni again said that a lot of cricket is still left in the Chennai skipper.
The veteran gloveman looked innovating in the nets and Raina had further said that Dhoni’s body is showing no signs of ageing.
"He was batting really well. Cricket is still left in him. He has looked innovative. We played practice games and those sixes are as big as they were. Three hours of batting in the evening, that too, in Chennai heat is not easy and we did that (during the camp). If you ask me, Mahi bhai is batting brilliantly," Raina told CSK fans during an Instagram Live session.
"His body is not showing signs of ageing. He was looking different and was trying to do something else, something different, new. So people will get to know when they see him," Raina added.
3. Dhoni's new look early had got netizens talking
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In May, Dhoni had made headlines after a video of himself sporting a grey beard had gone viral on social media.
In an Instagram post on his daughter Ziva’s official page, the former India captain could be seen indulging in some playful moments with Ziva while donning his new look.
Many netizens even commented saying Dhoni seemed to look 15 years older than his actual age.
Dhoni looking 15 years older than his real age. pic.twitter.com/aG5rQk6c6y
— Taimoor Zaman (@taimoor_ze) May 8, 2020
MS Dhoni's situation being in quarantine. pic.twitter.com/gyatnkFYGq
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 8, 2020
Somebody forwarded this photo. Is it really @msdhoni or has somebody been doing overtime on photoshop? pic.twitter.com/KxSz9AHRg5
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 9, 2020
4. Dhoni's retirement
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Dhoni had announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15 through a social media.
Since India's semi-final exit from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 against New Zealand in August last year, MSD did not feature for the Men In Blue.
During his break from cricket, Dhoni also served for the Indian Army too.
The retirement came as a shock to fans as all expected him to leave after the 2020 T20 World Cup which got postponed due to coronavirus. The news was enough to prove that he won't be able to cope with the fast-paced game more.
5. Life after MS Dhoni in CSK?
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After retiring from his international career, CSK might need to bid adieu to Dhoni as well. Dhoni had a lustrous career so far as a CSK skipper, guiding his side to multiple IPL titles on multiple occasions.
However, the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman is now hitting the time where he will decide to call it time on his IPL career as well.
While the journeyman is still going strong at the IPL 2020, reports had suggested that Dhoni might retire entirely from cricket if CSK wins the 13th edition of IPL in UAE.
