Will MS Dhoni retire for CSK after winning IPL 2023?

Will MS Dhoni retire for CSK after winning IPL 2023? Whilst the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans enjoy their team's IPL title victory in the 16th season of the tournament, they would be preoccupied with the idea of whether this is going to be the last season of their idol MS Dhoni or not. However, replying to all, MS Dhoni confirmed, after winning the IPL 2023 trophy, that he has no plans of retiring as of now.

CSK skipper MS Dhoni's retirement has been the talk of the town since the start of the IPL 2023. Multiple times the broadcasters and commentators bombarded Dhoni with the query of whether he will keep playing for his franchise or if this is going to be his final appearance in the field of cricket.

However, all these queries didn't bother the CSK skipper as he had a subtle reply that he still has a couple of months left to decide his fate for CSK in the IPL.

Interestingly, Harsha Bhogle, during the post-match presentations after CSK won the IPL 2023 Final, sought an answer on MS Dhoni's retirement plans, to which the cricketer replied he is yet to decide and make a call.

"Looking for an answer? This is the best time to announce my retirement. But the amount of love I have received all over. The easy thing would be to walk away from here, but the harder thing would be working hard for 9 months and try to play another IPL. It would be a gift from me, won't be easy on the body," Dhoni told broadcasters moments before he joined his teammates to collect the IPL trophy.

This certainly indicates that MS Dhoni is keen on playing another season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the only thing which can pull him back is his body which has crossed 40 years of age.

CSK defeated Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final of the Tata IPL 2023 by five wickets. Senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja made the final blow with a six and a boundary to seal their fifth IPL title in the rain-curtailed game.

Gujarat Titans after posting a total of 214 runs in 20 overs failed to defend 171 runs in 15 overs. The rain had played its part too as the second innings was reduced to 15 overs and the revised DLS target for CSK was 171 runs.

After Jadeja struck two consecutive boundaries and scored 10 runs off the final two deliveries, skipper MS Dhoni got a bit emotional as he lifted Jadeja following the latter's heroics.

Got emotional after everyone started chanting his name: MS Dhoni

Dhoni admitted that he got a bit emotional when the whole stadium started chanting his name. He said: "You do get emotional, the first game at CSK everyone was chanting my name. My eyes were full of water, I needed to take some time off in the dugout. I realised I need to enjoy this. I think they love me for what I am, they love that I am so grounded, I don't try to portray something I'm not. Just keep it simple."

Talking about how he retains his cool in crunch situations, Dhoni said he tries to step into the shoes of individual players.

"Every trophy is special, but what is special about IPL is every crunch game you need to be ready. There were lapses today, the bowling department didn't work, but it was the batting department that took the pressure off them today. I do get frustrated, it is human but I try to step into their shoes, every individual deal with pressure differently," Dhoni said.

MS Dhoni's CSK has now equalled Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI) record of five IPL titles. Both the perennial champions now share 10 trophies among them after playing 16 seasons of the IPL.

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For more details head to IPL?s official website.