'Me and Him May Be Playing For The Last Time': Virat Kohli Comments on MS Dhoni's IPL Retirement Rumours
Virat Kohli greets MS Dhoni during the IPL match between CSK and RCB in Chennai (AFP Photo)
Is this going to be MS Dhoni’s final Indian Premier League (IPL) season? Speculations have certainly been rife about the CSK talisman bidding adieu to IPL this time.
Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL title last year and he relinquished captaincy duties of the franchise ahead of the ongoing season.
Amidst the ever-growing rumors of Dhoni taking part in his final IPL season, Virat Kohli has now spoken his mind on the same.
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While speaking on Jio Cinema’s Inside Out show, the former Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper dropped a massive hint on Dhoni’s possible retirement.
Kohli said that maybe he and Dhoni will be playing together for the one final time tonight as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on the Chennai Super Kings in a virtual knockout clash at the Chinnaswamy.
“For fans to see him (Dhoni) play in any stadium in India is a big thing. Me and him playing again, maybe for the last time, you never know – that is a special thing. We have had some great memories, some great partnerships for India, it’s a great occasion for fans to see us together,” Virat Kohli said on Jio Cinema.
“People used to say the same about Mahi bhai (Mahendra Singh Dhoni). ‘Why is he taking the game to 20th over or 50th over?’ But how many matches did he finish for India! He’s probably the only person who knows what he’s doing! And he’s finishing the game from there. For me, that’s muscle memory. He knows if he takes the match till the last over, he’ll win the game… He will take the game into the last over where the opposition team is shivering in fear,” Kohli added.
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Tonight’s match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru will however be not MS Dhoni’s final IPL appearance if Chennai Super Kings manage to secure a win. A victory against the Faf du Plessis-led side will guide the reigning champions to the playoff. Chennai Super Kings are currently placed at the fourth spot in the IPL 2024 standings with 14 points to their name.
With 12 points from 13 matches, Royal Challengers Bengaluru now occupy the seventh position in the standings. A mere win against Chennai Super Kings tonight will not ensure RCB’s qualification. in fact, they will have to win by 18 runs while defending a score of 200. If they are chasing, the Bengaluru-based franchise must reach the target with about 11 balls to spare.