‘Nobody gives you discount for age’: MS Dhoni opens up about challenges of competitive cricket
New Delhi, May 21: Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni has opened up about the challenges of playing competitive cricket after his international retirement. At 42, MS Dhoni stated that age does not afford any concessions when competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Despite not playing cricket year-round, MS Dhoni participated in the IPL 2024 season for CSK, now led by Ruturaj Gaikwad. Unfortunately, CSK missed out on the playoffs after losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday. They finished fifth with seven wins, seven losses, and 14 points, falling short due to an inferior net run rate.
In a video interview with Dubai Eye 103.8 YouTube channel on Monday, MS Dhoni discussed the physical demands of the sport. “The toughest thing is… I am not playing cricket throughout the year. So I have to be fit. Once I come, you are competing against youngsters who are fit and playing international cricket. Professional sport is not easy; nobody gives you a discount for age. If you want to play, you have to be as fit as the other guy. Age does not really give that grace to you. So, eating habits, a bit of training and all those things are there. Social media, thankfully, I am not on social media, so there’s less distraction,” Dhoni quipped.
Reflecting on his cricketing career, Dhoni shared how his professional commitments once took a toll on his family time. Now, post-retirement from international cricket, he cherishes moments with his family and engages in activities that help him relax and stay focused. “Once I quit international cricket, I wanted to spend a bit more time with my family. But, at the same time, to be mentally active, to have that passion to stay focused — for me, I love farming, for me it is the motorbikes, I have started getting into vintage cars. These things de-stress me. If I am stressed, I would maybe go to the garage, spend a couple of hours over there, and I will just be fine,” he shared.
Dhoni also expressed his affection for pets, particularly dogs, and how they provide him with unconditional love and joy. “I have always felt growing up with a pet, whether it is a cat or a dog… I prefer dogs though. They have unconditional love towards you. I have said this in a previous interview, even if I lose a game and come back, my dog greets me the same way,” he said.
Following knee surgery last year, CSK has been cautious about managing Dhoni’s workload. He primarily batted during the final overs of matches this season. Despite limited opportunities, Dhoni delivered impressive performances, scoring 161 runs in 14 matches with an average of 53.67 and a remarkable strike rate of 220.55.
After CSK’s exit from the playoffs, bowling consultant Eric Simons lauded Dhoni’s contributions. “But I think anybody who wants to speculate about his future, that is crazy. MS knows what he is going to do. I know that this year I have seen him hit the ball from the pre-tournament camp. So he is playing extremely well, and he will make the decision. But he is a fantastic guy to be around. He has been fantastic to witness from the days I was with India and now with CSK. He is an incredible cricketer and an incredible individual in terms of his understanding of cricket and life. I think in many ways what he passes on to guys is the incredible self-belief, never say die attitude, and a simple understanding of the game of cricket,” Simons said in the post-match press conference.
As of now, Dhoni’s future in the IPL remains uncertain, and only he can decide whether he will feature in the next edition.