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'I’d be Extremely Surprised if This is His Last Season': Pietersen Weighs in on Dhoni's Retirement

image-lhsr0kswMS Dhoni's has scored his runs at a blistering strike-rate of 196 in IPL 2023 


Former England captain, Kevin Pietersen expressed his belief that Chennai Super Kings skipper, MS Dhoni may not bid farewell to the Indian Premier League (IPL) following the current season. Pietersen asserted that the newly implemented impact player rule could serve as a catalyst for extending Dhoni's illustrious IPL career.

The indomitable skipper of the Men in Yellow has garnered unwavering support from fans, both on home turf and away matches, igniting speculations that he may bid adieu to the IPL stage after the ongoing 2023 edition.

Following CSK’s last home game of the league stage at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Dhoni, along with his teammates, embarked on a triumphant lap of honour on the field. Pietersen, who witnessed this awe-inspiring spectacle firsthand, was touched by the unwavering loyalty displayed by the crowd.

Elaborating on his observations, the English batting maestro articulated his surprise if this season indeed marks Dhoni's swansong.

“I was there for Dhoni’s lap of honour on Sunday, and it was incredible to see how the stadium stayed completely full. I’d be extremely surprised if this is his last season. I think this impact player rule actually helps him tremendously, where he can keep for 20 overs and bat wherever he wants to bat,” wrote the erstwhile cricketer in his column for Betway.

Expounding on Dhoni's invaluable contributions to the team, Pietersen extolled his astute captaincy decisions and exemplary wicketkeeping skills. He added that the CSK skipper does not occupy a prominent batting slot but rather typically enters the fray towards the latter part to add quick runs.

“He makes the team better with the decisions he makes as a captain, and his keeping has been tremendous. It’s not like he takes a batting position up, because he tends to come in at seven, eight or nine to whack a few deliveries," added the Englishman.

Nonetheless, concerns have emerged regarding Dhoni's physical well-being, with the legendary stumper frequently observed limping on several occasions due to a knee injury. But Pietersen feels that the Indian veteran has a window of approximately eight to nine months, during which he could address his knee concerns and come back for another IPL season.