'Had This Conversation with Mahi Bhai...': MS Dhoni Tells Mohammad Shami About 'Retirement Plans'

Cockler

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posted on 5 months ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has revealed a discussion with MS Dhoni over players calling it time on their careers.

MS Dhoni’s retirement from IPL remains a mystery for his fans who missed him and his team – Chennai Super Kings – in the playoffs earlier this year. The stage was perfectly set for Dhoni’s dream farewell, given the Qualifier 2 and the final scheduled at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. However, the men in yellow lost their last league match to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by 27 runs and were knocked out of the season.

The mystery over his IPL future as neither the management nor any of Dhoni’s close aides spoke about the matter. With mega auctions scheduled to take place before IPL 2025, it is expected that Dhoni might take a call on his cricketing future when the strategy for the next season is laid.

Meanwhile, Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has revealed a discussion with Dhoni over players calling it time on their careers. Speaking on a YouTube podcast with Shubhankar Mishra, the fast bowler said Dhoni believes that a cricketer should retire only when he himself stops enjoying the game.

“You [media] guys have been putting a question mark on his future the man himself says, ‘Dekha Jayega’ [let’s see],” Shami said.

“I had this conversation with Mahi bhai, asking ‘When should a player retire?”. He said, ‘First when you yourself get bored and second, Jab lage ki laat padne wali hai (when you realise that you would be kicked out of the team).’

“But the first and foremost thing is that when you stop enjoying the game, it’s a sign that your time has come. Better you choose the best moment to retire. Because your body starts intimating you if you can’t sustain a particular format. That’s when a player should call it time,” Shami added.

According to a Times of India report, Dhoni has not communicated anything about his future yet.

“Dhoni has not told anybody in CSK that he is quitting. He has told the management that he will wait for a couple of months before taking a final call. He did not feel any discomfort in his running between the wickets and that is a plus,” the leading Indian daily had reported quoting a source back in May.