MS Dhoni, the legendary former captain of India’s cricket team, remains active in the Indian Premier League (IPL) despite retiring from international cricket in 2019. At 43, he aims to enjoy playing cricket with the innocence of a child, reminiscing about simpler times when sports were purely for enjoyment. Dhoni, who led India to significant victories, emphasizes that his focus was always on performing for the country. He encourages young players to prioritize their cricketing goals and to recognize what is essential for their development, underscoring the importance of commitment and disciplined lifestyle choices in achieving success.
It has been almost six years since MS Dhoni stepped away from international cricket, but it seems that retirement from the Indian Premier League is not on the horizon for the iconic player, who seeks to relish the game like a “child.” The 43-year-old former captain, who led India to victory in the World Cups of 2011 (ODI) and 2007 (T20) and clinched the Champions Trophy in 2013, last played for the national team in June 2019. Although Dhoni officially retired from international cricket in August 2019, he continues to play in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings, who retained him before the major auction last year.
Now, he will participate as an uncapped player, having been away from international cricket for over five years.
“I’ve been retired since 2019, so it’s been quite a while. In the meantime, what I want is to enjoy cricket in the remaining years that I have left to play,” Dhoni remarked on Wednesday during the launch of his app powered by Single.id.
“I aim to experience it with the same joy I had as a child back in school. During my childhood, 4 o’clock in the afternoon was when we played sports, and we frequently played cricket.
“If the weather was uncooperative, we would play football instead. I want to play with that same innocence… (though it is) easier said than done,” he added.
Dhoni emphasized that during his time as a player for India, his primary goal was always to perform at his best for the nation, with everything else being secondary.
“As a cricketer, my main focus was to contribute to the Indian cricket team, as I’ve mentioned before. Not everyone gets the opportunity to represent their country,” he stated.
“For us cricketers, every time we appeared on a big stage or toured, it was a chance to bring honor to the country. Thus, it was always the nation that came first for me.” Dhoni encouraged young players to discern what is “good for you” and prioritize accordingly.
“It’s essential to understand what is beneficial for you. When I was playing, cricket was everything for me — nothing else was significant. What time I needed to sleep, what time I had to wake up, and how it affected my cricket were my top priorities,” he explained.
“All the friendships, the fun — those can come later. There is a right time for everything, and recognizing that is one of the best things you can do for yourself.”
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