MS Dhoni's last season with CSK will be an "amazing moment", believes Matthew Hayden

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The IPL returns to its traditional venues for the first time since 2019. With the IPL 2023 set to start on March 31, it will be the first time Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni take the centre stage again at the MA Chidambaram stadium.

The yellow army at the Chennai ground always have been one of the most vocal and passionate followers of the game. MS Dhoni's aura at the Cheepauk stadium has galvanized CSK as a team and they have had many memorable moments there.

And former CSK player and Australia legend Matthew Hayden believes the support for CSK will be unparalleled this season, especially with MS Dhoni poised to play his last season for CSK.

The former India captain is 41 and may call it the end at the end of this IPL season. And Hayden believes Dhoni's final year in front of the Chennai fans will be nothing less than surreal.

"It will be an amazing moment. I think last year, we were all under the impression that will MSD come back again. At the close of the IPL season, he made that huge comment to say that he will be back," Hayden said to Star Sports ahead of the release of IPL 2023 schedule.

"This will, most certainly, I think, be the close of his IPL career. So, those few games at the start are not only going to be key for the fans, his performance is going to be key for CSK this season," he added.

Dhoni has been with the Chennai Super Kings since 2008 and has won 4 IPL titles with the franchise. There have been many topsy-turvy moments for the CSK franchise, but Dhoni has remained as the sole constant in the franchise.

And former India player Sanjay Manjrekar thinks a player of Dhoni's calibre can be kept in the squad just for his captaincy abilities.

"Look, having watched T20 cricket over the years, especially with the IPL and the kind of pressures that teams feel, I believe that you can have one player in your team on pure leadership. MS Dhoni doesn't play regularly, so his impact with the bat is not going to be as much as it was in the prime, but somebody like MS Dhoni, with his leadership experience, you can have him in the team, to make a difference with his leadership. And this is a guy who's had a team that was called the 'Old Men Playing IPL Together' and they won that particular season," Manjrekar said to Star Sports.

The IPL 2023 will be starting with Chennai Super Kings facing the defending Champions Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on March 31. The final will be played on May 28.