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Defending champions Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) dream of retaining their IPL title vanished after a crushing defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy stadium on May 18. A visibly dejected Mahendra Singh Dhoni returned to his hometown Ranchi on Sunday, May 19.
Chasing a daunting target of 219 runs, CSK needed at least 201 to stay alive in the playoff race. However, their batting faltered, and they could only manage 191/7. While MS Dhoni (25) and Ravindra Jadeja (42) provided some late hope with cameos, it wasn't enough. Dhoni's dismissal on the second ball of the final over, after a massive 110-metre six, proved to be a turning point, handing the momentum decisively to RCB. RCB became the fourth team to qualify for playoffs after KKR, RR and SRH.
Dhoni returns home after CSK's disappointing IPL exit, watch video here
Dhoni's late blitz in vain
Despite CSK's elimination, MS Dhoni sparked a flicker of hope with a powerful 25 off just 13 balls. This included three boundaries and a mammoth six, showcasing his enduring ability to clear the ropes. However, his dismissal on the second ball of the final over cast a shadow over his performance.
Dhoni's return to Ranchi on Sunday, following the heartbreaking defeat, fueled speculation that it might be his final IPL appearance. While the 41-year-old hasn't officially announced his retirement, his discomfort throughout the season, evident from his occasional limp and reliance on ice packs, has added weight to these rumors.
In the wake of Chennai's IPL 2024 playoff miss, former CSK opener Matthew Hayden offered his perspective on Dhoni's lasting impact on the franchise. He emphatically referred to Dhoni as the ‘Thala’ (leader) of CSK, highlighting his immense significance beyond just his playing role. This suggests Hayden believes Dhoni's influence will continue to be felt within CSK even if he decides to retire from playing.
"I think this is it. I do believe that this will be the last time that MS Dhoni will play. Certainly won't be the last time that we see MS Dhoni. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't mentor or be a part of the family of CSK in an official capacity," said Hayden on Star Sports Cricket Live.
”Yeah, I suppose the thing is when you come to the end of your career, whether it is the last part of his career or not, what you don't want to see is diminishing returns as an athlete. Firstly, as a leader, he is The Thala of the Chennai Super Kings. This is telling me that nothing here is about becoming anything else other than first place. He's desperately using his brains, all of that cricket knowledge. And of course, the power is there and that's always been MS Dhoni. He's always hit balls at this stage of an innings. At the front, you can understand how players can hit it. But at the back, it's really hard to hit balls,” Hayden added.
ALSO READ: 'I would be very surprised if...': Matthew Hayden's stunning take on MS Dhoni's IPL retirement talks
Meanwhile, former CSK star Ambati Rayudu doesn't see Dhoni announcing his IPL retirement after 2024 season.
"I don't think this is his last game. I just don't see him wanting to end on this note. He looked a little frustrated, even when he got out. That’s very unlike MS Dhoni, he just wanted to qualify and finish on a high. But you never know with MS Dhoni, he might come back next year. And with the impact player role as well, it gives him the opportunity to be able to come in those last few overs and truly make that impact. BCCI better not remove the impact player role because we still want to see MS Dhoni play. So, it's up to BCCI now. Do we want to see MS Dhoni play or not," Rayudu said.
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