IPL 2023: CSK CEO says MS Dhoni will play next year as well, but former India player feels this season is last

Chennai, May 15: Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan has given a big update regarding captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's involvement in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the 2023 season.

There has been lot of speculation about Dhoni's retirement from IPL since the last few seasons. The veteran skipper has also hinted about the same calling it 'the last stage of my cricketing career'. However, CSK CEO has said the skipper will play for another season.

"We believe MS Dhoni is going to play next season as well so I hope fans will continue to support us like every time (translation from Tamil)," CSK CEO Kasi Kasi Viswanathan said in a video posted by the franchise.

Led by their talisman MS Dhoni, Chennai Super Kings did a special lap of honour around the Chepauk to thank the home crowd after their IPL 2023 match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai on Sunday (May 15) night.

Even as the spectators went berserk at seeing their favourite player leading their team out after the game, batting great Sunil Gavaskar ran up to the two-time World Cup-winning captain for an autograph.

Probably playing in his last IPL, Dhoni, holding a racquet in one hand, was also seen hitting some balls into the crowd before tossing a few jerseys in that direction. The policemen at the venue also had their moments as they shook hands with Dhoni before getting his autographs.

While most of the cricketing world and fans would like to see him in action again next year, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes the 2023 season will be Dhoni's last as a player.

"I think MSD has given enough hints that this is his last IPL. He's keeping the world guessing and that's been his nature. But I have this intuition that Dhoni will not be playing the IPL next year," Kaif said on Star Sports Cricket Live.

Kaif also spoke about the surreal moment of MSD signing an autograph on Gavaskar's shirt, stating that a legend of the game taking autograph of Dhoni just shows the greatness of the two-time World Cup-winning India captain.

"We have never seen Sunny sir taking an autograph of any other cricketer. A great like Sunil Gavaskar taking the autograph on his shirt from Dhoni just tells the greatness of MS Dhoni," Kaif added.

Dhoni and CSK will hope to bounce back from the defeat to KKR and seal a spot in the playoff to return for one more time to Chepauk for the Qualifier or Eliminator, which is scheduled to be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium next week,

Before that CSK will face Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi in their final league stage game of the season on Saturday (May 20). A win will seal their spot, but a defeat will keep them sweating on other results.