'Best time to announce my retirement but...': MS Dhoni on retirement after CSK win in final

 

Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni vowed to return for another IPL season, but only when his body allows it.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) became the most successful team in the Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL) as they lifted the trophy for a record fifth time at midnight on Tuesday, May 29. MS Dhoni's CSK managed to chase down the target of 171 runs. Won in 15 overs in a rain-curtailed final, Ravindra Jadeja stole the show by scoring the winning run off the last ball of the innings.

However, all eyes were on skipper Dhoni when he took the stage during the post-match presentation and broke his silence on his retirement plans.

41 Dhoni had a stage set to announce his retirement, but the former Indian skipper declared that he would be back to play at least one more season next year, but added that only if his body allows it. He said that he is grateful to his fans for another season as they have showered him with immense love and affection this year.

"If you see circumstantially this is the best time for me to announce retirement," Dhoni said "But the amount of love and affection I've been shown wherever I've been this year, the easy thing for me would be to say, 'Thank you very much'. But the tough thing for me is to work hard for another nine months and come back and play at least one more season of IPL. But a lot depends on the body, I have six-seven months to decide and it will be more like a gift from my side to the fans. It's not easy for me but the way they've shown their love and affection, that's something I need to do for them.

Dhoni also revealed his emotional side as he is known for keeping his feeling to himself. When Harsha Bhogle recalled Dhoni's emotional moment this season, Dhoni accepted that he got emotional because he is aware of playing in the last stages of his IPL career.

"You do get emotional for the simple fact that it's the last part of my career and I think it started over here when I was playing the first game. I just walked out and the full house was chanting my name. My eyes filled with tears and I just stood there in the dugout for a while, and I took my time and I realized that I want to enjoy it and not take the pressure. I think it was the same thing in Chennai when I played my last game there, but it will be good to come back and play whatever I can."

The Narendra Modi Stadium erupted in celebration, perhaps louder than the moment of CSK's victory when Dhoni confirmed his return for next season. Fans were waiting to know an official update with IPL 2023 predicted to be Dhoni's last season. Dhoni's die-hard fans have shown their love for the legendary wicketkeeper throughout this season and have paid attention to it by filling every venue with yellow in IPL 2023.