IPL 2023: "If he makes himself ready, he will play the full season" - Anil Kumble on MS Dhoni

Former Team India head coach Anil Kumble feels that it would not be easy for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni to prepare fully for the upcoming IPL 2024. However, he expects the legendary captain to play the entire season if he is ready.

However, CSK fans were happy to see Dhoni in the franchise’s retained players list released on November 26. Despite being 42, he is all but certain to feature in his upcoming IPL season. Meanwhile, Dhoni recently underwent knee surgery as well. Speaking to Jio Cinemas on the retention day, Kumble feels a lack of match practice and the return from knee surgery will make it hard on MS Dhoni in the upcoming season.

“He has undergone a knee surgery,” Anil Kumble said. “He has to work hard, but he is someone who will not give you any clue about when he is going to leave. We have seen that with the way he left international cricket too. I am sure the fans and the players want him to go all the way. I am sure if he is ready if he makes himself ready, he will play the full season. I think last year was a classic example. We all know he was not 100 percent fit, but yet he managed to be at his best behind the stumps, in front of the stumps. You have time, but he has hardly played any cricket. It’s not going to be easy.”

“I don’t think he will leave the season midway” – Aakash Chopra on MS Dhoni

However, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra echoed Anil Kumble’s words as well and added that MS Dhoni will play the entire IPL 2024 season as well. CSK released eight players, including the now-retired Ambati Rayudu and England Test skipper Ben Stokes, who made himself unavailable for the IPL 2024.

“I don’t think he will leave the season midway,” Chopra said. “He has proved everyone wrong, time and again. MS Dhoni will decide it himself. Last season also, there were concerns about his knee, he was struggling, but he managed to play. Last year, when Ben Stokes came, there was talk about him becoming the next CSK captain. But after a year, Stokes has left. Will it be Ruturaj Gaikwad?”