MS Dhoni, the legendary former captain of the Indian cricket team, continues to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Chennai Super Kings despite retiring from international cricket in August 2019. At 43, he aims to enjoy cricket like a child, reminiscing about his early days of play. During a recent app launch, Dhoni emphasized the importance of representing India and focusing on personal performance. He advised young players to prioritize their cricketing commitments, recognizing the right time for everything, and ensuring that cricket remains a central part of their lives.
It has been almost six years since he stepped away from international cricket, but retirement from the Indian Premier League may not be on the horizon for the iconic MS Dhoni, who wishes to embrace playing cricket like a “child.” The 43-year-old former captain, who led India to World Cup victories in 2011 (ODI) and 2007 (T20), along with the Champions Trophy win in 2013, last played for the national team in June 2019. While Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket in August 2019, he remains a key player in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings, who retained him before the mega auction last year.
He will now play as an uncapped player, having been retired from international cricket for over five years.
“I’ve been retired since 2019, so it’s been quite a while. What I’ve focused on since then is enjoying cricket for the last few years I have left to play,” Dhoni said on Wednesday during the launch of his app powered by Single.id.
“I want to enjoy it just as I did as a child when I was in school. Back then, 4 PM was sports time, so we would often go out to play cricket.
“If the weather wasn’t favorable, we would switch to playing football. I want to play with that same innocence… (but it is) easier said than done,” he added.
Dhoni remarked that as a player representing India, his priority was always to give his best for the country, with everything else being secondary.
“As a cricketer, my aim was always to excel for the Indian cricket team because, as I’ve mentioned before, not everyone gets the opportunity to represent their country,” he stated.
“For us as cricketers, every time we stepped onto the big stage or went on tours, it was an opportunity to achieve glory for our country, and for me, the country always came first.” Dhoni advised younger players to determine what is “right for you” and prioritize accordingly.
“You always need to figure out what is best for you. During my playing days, I ensured that cricket was my main focus — nothing else mattered. I considered what time I had to sleep, what time I had to wake up, and how it affected (my) cricket; that was paramount,” he explained.
“All the friendships and fun could happen later. There is a right time for everything, and I believe recognizing that is the best thing you can do (for yourself).”
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