IPL 2023: MS Dhoni can play IPL till 2027, says former CSK star dismissing retirement talks

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The Indian Premier League will be taking the centre stage from March 31. The coveted tournament is set to be played around the length and breadth of the country for the first time since 2019.

As the ten teams will revert back to the traditional home and away games across all the venues, Chennai Super Kings fans wait for their adopted son MS Dhoni. The Thala, as MS Dhoni is known in the Southern parts, is a massive figure and this year they will see their captain cool for the first time in four years, bossing the Chidambaram Stadium in the yellow jersey.

There have been rumours that Dhoni, who turns 41 in July, will hang his gloves after this edition of IPL. But Dhoni's former teammate and former CSK player Shane Watson has shrugged off those theories.

Watson, who joined Chennai Super Kings in 2017, believes this year won't be the last of Dhoni and the former Indian captain can continue playing for a few years. The former Australia international is currently in Doha taking part in the LLC Masters, and he reckons Dhoni will still be around for some time in the IPL.

"I heard that this is the last IPL of MS Dhoni but I don't think. MS Dhoni can continue to play for the next three to four years. He is still very fit and batting and wicket-keeping really well. His leadership is something that is as good as his game. His fitness and mind-reading of the game make him a good leader. His skills on the ground are awesome. He is one of the main reasons that CSK is successful," Watson said to ANI.

Taking account of Watson's comments, Dhoni can be around in the IPL as a player till 2027, which may seem a bit far-fetched to few as he will be around 45 years old at that time. But is it a surprise?

It won't be a bolt from the blue for those who have seen the former Indian captain. The fitness level of Dhoni is still quite stunning, given he last played for India in 2019. Regarding Dhoni's retirement, another former CSK player Suresh Raina also went about almost the same lines as Watson a few days ago.

"I wish he could, but we'll have to see what his commitments are, He can play the IPL next year as well, you never know. He's been batting well and looking fit, it depends on how the performance is this year," Raina opined recently.

CSK start their IPL 2023 campaign with a date against the defending Champions Gujarat Titans on the opening day of the new season. The four-time IPL champions endured a tough time in 2022 as they finished at the bottom of the IPL table.