CHENNAI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni might have caught everyone by surprise by announcing his international retirement on Saturday but Chennai Super Kings aren't overly concerned with the future of their captain with the side. The IPL franchise wants Dhoni to play for them as long as he wants.
"He has quit international cricket only. He is going to play for CSK. We want him to play for us as long as he wants. In fact, we plan to retain him as a player after the 2021 IPL too," CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told TOI on Sunday.
CSK, who started their training camp on Saturday, didn't return to practice on Sunday due to lockdown in the city. Dhoni, who had last played competitive cricket in the World Cup last year, is all set to return to action when the IPL starts in the UAE on September 19. But speculation is that the 39-year-old might quit the sport altogether if CSK manage to win the IPL this year.
"The decision to retire from international cricket was typical of Dhoni. But we don't interfere with him when it comes to cricketing decisions. However, we certainly hope that he doesn't take a decision like that and quit CSK," Viswanathan said.
The CSK official was in charge of the team's first practice session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Saturday when Dhoni announced his retirement. Viswanathan recounted that there was no hint of Dhoni's impending decision from his body language when he was batting. "The practice started around 4:30 pm and Dhoni finished around 7:00 and went back to the dressing room. Half an hour later, I received a text from our owner N Srinivasan, asking me to check whether the news was correct. I confronted Dhoni when he returned from the dressing room and he confirmed the news," Viswanathan informed.
Dhoni has been known as a cool and composed player who hardly cracks under pressure. Viswanathan said that the former India captain didn't show any emotions when he broke the news to him. "His decision completely took us by surprise but he showed no emotions. He was as cool and calm as ever. The Indian team and CSK have achieved success over the years under Dhoni's captaincy because there was clarity in his thoughts. On Saturday, too, I could see the same clarity in his decision," he concluded.
In Video:See you at the toss on September 19: Rohit to Dhoni
"He has quit international cricket only. He is going to play for CSK. We want him to play for us as long as he wants. In fact, we plan to retain him as a player after the 2021 IPL too," CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told TOI on Sunday.
CSK, who started their training camp on Saturday, didn't return to practice on Sunday due to lockdown in the city. Dhoni, who had last played competitive cricket in the World Cup last year, is all set to return to action when the IPL starts in the UAE on September 19. But speculation is that the 39-year-old might quit the sport altogether if CSK manage to win the IPL this year.
"The decision to retire from international cricket was typical of Dhoni. But we don't interfere with him when it comes to cricketing decisions. However, we certainly hope that he doesn't take a decision like that and quit CSK," Viswanathan said.
The CSK official was in charge of the team's first practice session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Saturday when Dhoni announced his retirement. Viswanathan recounted that there was no hint of Dhoni's impending decision from his body language when he was batting. "The practice started around 4:30 pm and Dhoni finished around 7:00 and went back to the dressing room. Half an hour later, I received a text from our owner N Srinivasan, asking me to check whether the news was correct. I confronted Dhoni when he returned from the dressing room and he confirmed the news," Viswanathan informed.
Dhoni has been known as a cool and composed player who hardly cracks under pressure. Viswanathan said that the former India captain didn't show any emotions when he broke the news to him. "His decision completely took us by surprise but he showed no emotions. He was as cool and calm as ever. The Indian team and CSK have achieved success over the years under Dhoni's captaincy because there was clarity in his thoughts. On Saturday, too, I could see the same clarity in his decision," he concluded.
In Video:See you at the toss on September 19: Rohit to Dhoni
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