Mahendra Singh Dhoni was numb. He did not increase his head whilst Ravindra Jadeja had began sprinting in direction of the dugout and his mates in canary yellow responding in type.
Maybe Dhoni was making an attempt to course of all of it after a gruelling two months. Moeen Ali hugged him and the contours of his face was devoid of any emotion. Maybe there was a storm brewing in his thoughts throughout these final six balls and it was the calm after-effect.
Dhoni has simply guided CSK to a fifth IPL trophy in 11 remaining appearances and he remained unfazed. Job executed, what is the fuss about. He could not suppress his large grin as an ecstatic Jadeja jumped on to his lap and engaged in a bear hug.
There have been conjectures about their relationship deteriorating after Jadeja had to relinquish CSK captaincy mid-season in 2022, however as they are saying in Hindi, “anth bhala toh sab bhala” (all’s nicely that ends nicely).
If Dhoni is concerned, one would by no means know what really transpired. Because what occurs in ‘Dhoniland’ stays in ‘Dhoniland’. Ask any CSK trustworthy, and he would vouch that it is an previous concrete jungle saying.
Did the world see moistened eyes? Perhaps sure. But there will not be any overt show of feelings. It was all about course of and execution with precision. Loads of pluck, and sure, a little bit of luck, too.
He quietly trudges onto the sector. Pats unfortunate Gujarat Titans bowler Mohit Sharma’s head. He is aware of how it feels to come so close to and but miss out. Remember Old Trafford the place he was setting it up ala Dhoni type. That’s why Dhoni is particular and eminently relatable. He can relate with failures as a lot as he can with success.
Mohit is somebody who learnt the ropes of top-flight bowling underneath Dhoni at CSK earlier than fading into oblivion after which making a grand re-entry this IPL.
In the meantime Jadeja does a TV interview and dedicates his efficiency and win to “MS Dhoni”. The Motera stand, resembling a sunflower, erupts, however is it a touch that the top is close to.
The query has adopted Dhoni to each metropolis and totally different folks had requested him in a distinct method. The street-smart participant that he’s, he at all times gave a cheeky reply, like one to Danny Morrison the place he joked that he’s already forcing him to retire, or at a promotional occasion the place he stated that any announcement would make issues go haywire.
Have we seen the final of him? Maybe or perhaps not. Only time will inform how he copes with a broken knee when is nearing 43.
“If you circumstantially see, it’s the best time to announce the retirement. The easy thing for me to say is thank you and retire. But the hard thing to do is to work hard for nine months and try to play one more IPL season. The body has to hold up.
“The quantity of affection I’ve obtained from CSK followers, it could be a present for them to play yet another season,” Dhoni said before receiving his fifth trophy.
The love of Chennai fans has been unconditional and Chepauk has been his amphitheatre, and he has been the hero as well as the main protagonist for them.
“The method they’ve proven their love and emotion, it is one thing I would like to do for them. It’s the final a part of my profession. It began over right here and the complete home was chanting my title. It was the identical factor in Chennai, however it will be good to come again and play no matter I can,” Dhoni assured all those who braved rain, changed itinerary, burnt hole in their pockets, and were present to hear him speak well past midnight.
So will it be a practical decision or an emotional one if Dhoni, who would be pushing 43 next year, decides to play another season of a gruelling two-month tourney? It is easier said than done in professional sport but Dhoni wants to bide time. On the face of it, it might seem emotional because CSK isn’t just another team for Dhoni, which pays him a fat pay cheque. It is an emotional investment.
Going into the next decade, he will only be making all cricketing decisions and as a quick learner, work alongside Rupa Gurunath to also understand the business of running a franchise.
But those who have seen Dhoni, they know that N Srinivasan, the venerable CSK owner, is the former India captain’s life coach and he has learnt one thing from him: if possible, always bide time, and take it deep, on and off the field.
So if another IPL is 10 months away and he has to keep himself cricket-fit for at least three months in the lead-up to the next edition, he will try and do it.
“The type of cricket I play, they really feel they’ll play that cricket. There’s nothing orthodox about it and I like to preserve it easy,” Dhoni said.
As Stephen Fleming pointed out after the match. Dhoni’s training sessions are on need basis.
“I can guarantee you that he has executed no wicket-keeping follow in the course of the IPL. It is all pure. He tried to do a protecting session with Devon Conway, who’s a world wicketkeeper, and it was nearly comical,” Fleming said.
“Today was phenomenal, the type he does it with is superior. That stumping is MS Dhoni at his greatest. It is nature, he has realized from tennis-ball cricket and it’s simply pure talent,” Fleming added.
The impact player rule will give Dhoni a chance to maybe keep wickets for 20 overs but not use himself as a batter save a few occasions.
“Look, he is aware of, his power-hitting sport is lengthy gone. Like on Monday, he got here forward of Ravindra Jadeja. You might say it is due to sustaining the left-right mixture however even then he took an opportunity as a result of 15 balls have been left.
“Had Jadeja gone out before him and got a first-ball duck, Dhoni might not have been able to finish the game,” a former CSK participant instructed PTI when requested how the skipper thinks.
So will he play subsequent season? “My hunch is that he won’t play as a batter any more. He would perhaps still play a few games and check if he can run the team from dugout without being on the field. The moment, he cracks that code, he won’t play anymore. For that if you read Fleming’s words, he would try to fit in Devon Conway in that slot,” the previous participant stated.
After all, MSD is CSK and CSK is MSD.
