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| Chennai Super Kings in 10th IPL final: 'Fans won't let Dhoni retire even at 75 |
This man is like a hero. Half the stadium fills up to catch a glimpse of him, to see him take the field for practice. They (fans) won't let him retire even at the age of 75.
These words were spoken by the famous Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the former captain of the Indian cricket team and the captain of the IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
In the first play-off of the current season of IPL, Chennai Super Kings defeated last year's champions Gujarat Titans by 15 runs and booked their place in the final.
Chennai Super Kings have reached the playoffs 12 times in the history of IPL and this year they reached the final for the 10th time and both of them are records in themselves.
Chennai Superkings have won the IPL four times while Mumbai Indians have managed to win the tournament five times.
Now the question arises, will Dhoni equal this record by leading his team to victory for the fifth time and will he leave the IPL with this title?
Will the people of Chennai see you play here again?
This year, wherever Dhoni played, a flood of fans came to watch him, and the entire stadium was bathed in yellow.
Every time the cricket commentators asked him the same question whether this is his last IPL that people come to watch him in such numbers last night Harsha Bhogle also asked the same question Dhoni and he answered in his own way.
Harsha asks if the Chennai audience will see you here again. So Dhoni said you are trying to ask whether I will play here again or not.
So Harsh Bhogle asked, 'Will you come here and play again?'
Then Dhoni smiled and said, "I don't know, I have eight or nine months to decide, so why bother with this headache now." I have plenty of time to make a decision. I don't know if I will stay with it (the team) as a player or in any other capacity but that much is certain that I will stay with CS.
He added that I have been out of the house since January 31. I have been practicing since March 2 or 3 so let's see what happens, I have enough time to make a decision at this point.
Earlier, Danny Morrison also asked questions about his retirement after the toss during the current season (45th match) of IPL.
Earlier, Morrison had also said that 'Dhoni is getting support at every ground in this final season' and then asked Mahi ie Dhoni how he is enjoying it, and 'Captain Cool' said with a smile. That 'means you've decided this is my last season.'
'One Man, One Captain, One Dhoni'
Dhoni is being talked about in at least a dozen hashtags on social media in India and Twitter in particular.
Former Indian cricket team opener and batsman Virender Sehwag wrote that Chennai Super Kings is an amazing team.
Better leadership is about making the best of your resources and with the bowling line-up that Chennai have, only Dhoni could take them to the final. That is why they are loved everywhere for who they are and what they do.
Former cricketer and commentator Irfan Pathan said that now that there is a new role of an impact player in the IPL, Dhoni can play next year as well.
"One man, one captain, one Dhoni," wrote a user called Kirk Crazy John, registering the year Chennai Kings reached the final ten times.
Observers say that given the love and support Dhoni has received, it can be said that this will not be his last IPL, but his knee injury, which has been mentioned time and again, and Dhoni also mentioned it last night.
'Annoying Captain'
After the match, Gujarat team captain Hardik Pandya also praised Dhoni and said, "The way Dhoni uses his bowlers is unbelievable and that's the beauty of him."
On his fielding placement after the match, Dhoni said, "You keep changing the fielding depending on the wicket and the condition." I can be a very annoying captain because I keep changing my fielders a couple of feet here and there.'
"That's why I ask my players to keep an eye on me. I position them left and right after every two or three balls. During the match, I adjust my fielders according to my gut feeling and sometimes it gives positive results.
After leading the team to the final for the 10th time in the IPL, Dhoni was asked if it was like another final and he said, "It's not just another final." Earlier there were eight teams with the best cricketers from around the world and now there are 10, so now it is more difficult than before.
"I can't call it another final but it's the result of more than two months of hard work," he added. Which is why we are here today. Since we started this journey, different people have played different roles for the team.
'Everyone contributed to it. The middle order didn't get many chances, but everyone got a chance to perform and they did well. So we are very happy with where we are.
He is called 'Captain Cool' to praise Dhoni's captaincy. He led the Indian team to new heights during his cricket career.
During a match last week, India's legendary Test batsman Sunil Gavaskar put Dhoni on his shirt. Autographed.
When he was asked about this in an interview, he became emotional and said, "What has this player (Dhoni) not given to India?" He said that two moments of cricket will always be remembered. One when Kapil lifted the World Cup in 1983 and one when Dhoni hit a six to win the World Cup.