Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa believes CSK icon MS Dhoni will play for one more season in the IPL. Chennai’s IPL 2024 season came to an end after they suffered a 27-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Saturday. 

Many cricket boffins believe that this was Dhoni’s last season in the IPL. Dhoni scored 161 runs in 11 innings of the season at an average of 53.67 and a strike rate of 220.65, the second-best in the tournament for a batter with a minimum of 100 runs.

Meanwhile, Dhoni led CSK to five titles as a captain in the tournament and played a key role in the success of the team since the inception of the IPL. The talisman scored 25 runs off 13 balls against RCB but was dismissed on a slower ball by Yash Dayal.

Robin Uthappa said on JioCinema, “I don’t think we have seen the last of MS. He is not someone who takes these things lightly. He will come back roaring for sure. Even with the narrative, I have seen him bat only in the last 4 or 5 overs, there is a reason for it. He had a calf injury which they initially thought perhaps was a niggle, but it was a little more grave than that. Because of that, he had to manage himself and often as he does, in international cricket and for CSK, he figured out a way to be useful and contribute to CSK.”

Former CSK all-rounder Shane Watson also concurred with Robin Uthappa and said that Dhoni can go on to play for a couple of more years.

“He batted beautifully again. There is no doubt that he can fulfil a very important role for CSK, even if it’s coming in and facing 13-15 balls each game and doing this. He played incredibly well. Fingers crossed, MSD can roll out again for at least one or two more years, fulfilling this role which is a little less demanding physically on him anyway,” said Watson.

CSK ended their campaign with seven wins and as many losses.