Assuring that the Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings is not worried at all about captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, chief executive Kasi Viswanathan said that the former India skipper could lead CSK until the 2022 IPL.
“Yes. We can expect M.S. Dhoni to be part of both (2020 and 2021 IPL seasons) and probably for even the next year. 2022,” Viswanathan said to India Today.
Dhoni will return to cricket in the 2020 IPL which will be staged in the United Arab Emirates from September 19 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The IPL will see Dhoni play competitive cricket again since India’s exit from the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup.
The 39-year-old cricketer has been on a sabbatical and has mostly kept a low profile since India lost to New Zealand in the World Cup semifinal by 18 runs.
However, Viswanathan is confident about Dhoni’s place in the CSK team and his leadership skills, putting his weight behind the captain.
“I am getting updates through the media only, saying he has been training in Jharkhand in indoor nets. But we don’t have to worry about the skipper, boss. We don’t worry about him at all. He knows his responsibilities and he will take care of himself and the team,” he said.
Dhoni was seen training with the Chennai Super Kings team at the M.A. Chidambaram stadium on March 2 before international sports was suspended and a lockdown was imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak. He had received a rousing reception after months of speculation regarding his career.
The wicket-keeper batsman has led India to two world titles—the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup. Under his captaincy, CSK has won three IPL titles.
