Dhoni is regarded as one of the greatest captains across the globe. The former India captain led India to three ICC trophy wins and has won five IPL titles with Chennai Super Kings.
Dhoni’s indomitable aura and class as a player, composed yet assured leadership skills have bolstered Indian cricket in various ways, and as the Indian legend is in his twilight years in the IPL, fans from Kolkata to Kanniyakumari have only one tune in mind, ‘Abhi Naa Jao Chhod Kar, Ke Dil Abhi Bhara Nahi’. (Don’t Leave it right now, Our Heart is not yet full).
The latest chapter in Dhoni’s career has taken a new turn as he handed over CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the IPL 2024. Although fans have speculated multiple theories on Dhoni’s future, the man who unearthed MS believes his disciple is ‘too tough to predict’.
Dhoni’s childhood coach Keshav Banerjee talked with MyKhel in an exclusive chat and revealed a plethora of thoughts from Dhoni’s captaincy decision to his future as a CSK player, India Coach and many other things.
Keshav Banerjee reckons Dhoni’s decision to leave captaincy was the right decision as the King is supposed to hand it over to the Prince.
“When the King feels it is time, he hands things over to the Prince. This is the same in Cricket. He knows he has to pass the baton to someone who can carry forward CSK in the coming years. He is always there with CSK. When he will leave cricket, he will hone some role at CSK. But somebody should be there to take his place,” Dhoni’s childhood coach Keshav Banerjee said to MyKhel.
Ruturaj Gaikwad said Dhoni was always beside him in the first match, and Dhoni’s childhood coach also spotted the same.
“Although Ruturaj Gaikwad is the official captain, you could see all the movements and placing being done by Dhoni. It is a huge learning process for Gaikwad with Dhoni by his side. This is the way a new captain becomes,” he added.
Dhoni had to undergo knee surgery after the IPL last year. He promised his fans to play for the Yellow Shirt for at least another year, the former CSK captain crossed many physical hurdles to achieve that. His coach could only hail the passion and dedication of the legendary player.
“Age is just a number. After the IPL last year, the way he treated his injury, the way he rehabilitated and then got back to full fitness – this kind of dedication at this age is beyond belief. He is also keeping wickets, so you can see he is still fit.”
If body permits, Dhoni can play One or Two More Years
MyKhel asked Mr. Banerjee if Dhoni had any specific talks with him before the IPL, but the coach says Dhoni never discusses cricket things with him and they chat about other stuff in life.
“IPL in Indian summer is highly physically demanding because of the temperature. He is very unpredictable and we don’t know what will happen next year. But if he can keep his fitness and his body permits, he can play for the next one or two years. But all of the things depend on Dhoni himself. He will take the decision and he takes it so subtly. He is very difficult to guess,” Banerjee further said.
Keshav Banerjee was the man who spotted Dhoni in Ranchi. And the coach reveals Dhoni always had a knack for playing football and he is a decent Badminton Player. Banerjee currently lives alternately in Ranchi and Kolkata and attends Dhoni’s Academies for coaching purposes.
It is to be seen how much the CSK supremo elongates his career, but one thing is for sure, the Thala, as he is popularly known in Chennai and Tamil Nadu, shall hang his boots on his own terms.
Sauradeep Ash Mykhel
source: mykhel.com