DUBAI: Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has no doubt that he would be seen in yellow even in 2022 but at this point, he does not know whether that yellow would be representative of his Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings.
Speaking after the toss for CSK’s IPL game against Punjab Kings, the 40-year-old was asked about whether he would be staying with the franchise, which he has been synonymous with since the IPL’s inception.
“Well, you can see me in yellow next year. But whether I will be playing for CSK? There are a lot of uncertainties around it for a simple reason that we have two new teams coming up,” PTI quotes the former Team India captain as having said, referring to the IPL’s expansion into a 10-team competition from next season.
“We don’t know the retention policy. We don’t know how many foreigners, Indian players we can retain, the money cap that every player will be cutting from the kitty. So there are a lot of uncertainties.
“Unless the rules are in place, you can’t really decide that. So we will wait for it to happen and hopefully it will be good for everyone,” he added.
The non-commital nature of his remarks appear to make one thing clear. That Captain Cool is hedging his bets, which is surprising seesing as earlier this week, while interacting with fans during the 75th year celebrations of CSK parent ‘India Cements’, Dhoni had indicated that he would be turning out in CSK colours next season.
“When it comes to farewell, you can still come and see me play for CSK and that can be my farewell game. So, you will still get that opportunity to bid me farewell. Hopefully, we will come to see Chennai and play my last game over there and we can meet fans there,” Dhoni had said.
Whatever India’s second highest valued cricketer after Virat Kohli may have said, the fact remains that with two new franchises (presumably with cash to burn at their respective disposals) making their debuts next season, big monies will be chasing the likes of Dhoni. So it could well be “all about the money, honey!”
Be that as it may, according to the information garnered by PTI from CSK team sources, the franchise is seriously keen to retain only three players – Dhoni, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and prolific opener Ruturaj Gaikwad.
