Former Indian Opener Virender Sehwag feels that the impact player rule will not apply to the Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni as the Indian legend plays predominantly as the captain in the field it would be difficult for the four-time champions to use him impact player in the team.
MS Dhoni has been the poster boy of the Chennai Super Kings since the start of the league. In Indian Premier League (IPL) team Chennai Super Kings has won four IPL trophies and two Champions League T20 trophies under the legendary Indian Skipper.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Virender Sehwag believes that age is not a factor in cricket, as a player can play the game if they are extremely fit and reckons that the impact rule may not apply to MS Dhoni as the former Indian skipper as he will be an important player for the team in the field and believes that the CSK skipper will be part of the franchise as mentor or coach in the future.
“It’s not difficult (to play cricket in the 40s) if you’re fit. MS Dhoni hasn’t batted too much this year. He’s not aggravating his knee injury. Often, he would come in the last two overs. If I count the total balls he faced, I think he would’ve faced 40-50 deliveries this season”.
“Impact Player rule doesn’t apply to MS Dhoni. Because he’s playing only for captaincy. He has to stay in the ground for captaincy. The impact Player rule is for someone who doesn’t field but bats, or a bowler who doesn’t need to bat. Dhoni has to field 20 overs; if he’s not the captain, he won’t even play as Impact Player. Then, you will see him as mentor or coach or Director of Cricket,” Virender Sehwag told Cricbuzz.
MS Dhoni was one of the most successful captains in international cricket history. Under his captaincy, India won the ICC World T20 2007, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, and ICC Champions Trophy 2013, and has been one of the legends of the game of International Cricket.
MS Dhoni Will Return To Play For CSK In 2024 – Dwayne Bravo
Former CSK all-rounder Dwayne Bravo believes that the CSK skipper will continue playing for the franchise in the forthcoming seasons as he even can play as an impact player for the side and added that his presence in the field would be unmatched as he can keep the team calms in pressure situations.
“100 percent (will he return to play for CSK in 2024?), especially with the Impact Player rule. He can keep prolonging his career. We bat deep. So you don’t require much from MS. But his ability to keep us calm while the team is under pressure is unmatched,” Dwayne Bravo said.
There has been a lot of speculation that MS Dhoni is playing his last season for Chennai Super Kings(CSK) in the 16th edition of the IPL as the fans turn up in large numbers in CSK colours to support him during home and away games.