MS Dhoni can play IPL 2024 as well, he has been looking fit and batting well: Suresh Raina

Former Chennai Super Kings batter Suresh Raina feels MS Dhoni can go on to play IPL 2024 as well. Raina stated Dhoni has been looking fit and batting well in the recently uploaded videos. In fact, many cricket experts reckon that the upcoming season could be Dhoni’s swansong in the IPL but Raina thinks otherwise.

Dhoni, 41, has been playing only IPL cricket since calling it time on his International career back on 15th August 2020, with Suresh Raina following suit. The veteran wicket-keeper played his last International match against New Zealand, which was the semifinal of the 2019 World Cup.

Meanwhile, in a recently uploaded video by Chennai Super Kings’ Twitter handle, Dhoni was seen hitting the big shots in the nets. The talisman was timing the ball to perfection, and thus issuing a warning to all the other nine teams.

“Dhoni can play the IPL next year as well, you never know,” Raina said during the Legends League Cricket tournament in Doha.

“He (Dhoni) has been batting well and looking fit, it depends on how the performance is this year. It may be a little challenging since him and (Ambati) Rayudu haven’t played the tournament since one year,” he added.

“You must have seen the videos of him. The way he is playing the big shots (in the nets). I hope he does well and makes them win,” Raina said.

Meanwhile, CSK added players like Ben Stokes and Ajinkya Rahane to their squad in the auction. Raina feels CSK has a potent squad and it would be interesting to note how they play.

“I think the team is quite strong, a lot of young players are coming through the ranks. (Ruturaj) Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja), (Ben) Stokes, Deepak Chahar…and there are more young and dynamic players in that side. Let’s see how they play,” he added.

CSK will open their IPL 2023 campaign against defending champions Gujarat Titans in the tournament’s curtain raiser at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 31.