As the anticipation builds for MS Dhoni’s return to action in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain was spotted hitting the nets in preparation for the upcoming season. Since announcing his retirement from international cricket in August 2020, Dhoni has focused solely on the IPL, where he continues to lead CSK. Last season, he guided the team to a historic fifth title, triumphing over the Gujarat Titans in a thrilling final in Ahmedabad.
MS Dhoni uses Prime Sports sticker on his bat which is owned by his friend
In a recent viral image, Dhoni was seen practicing with a bat sporting the sticker of “Prime Sports,” a shop in Ranchi owned by his friend Paramjit Singh. Paramjit played a pivotal role in securing Dhoni’s first bat sponsorship, a relationship that was also depicted in the movie ‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’ (2016), highlighting his influence on Dhoni’s career.
With speculation swirling about Dhoni’s future beyond this season, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan commented that only Dhoni himself could provide clarity on the matter. “That I do not know. See, as far as the captain is concerned, he will answer you directly. He does not tell us what he is going to do,” Viswanathan stated, as reported by The Indian Express.
MS Dhoni with the 'Prime Sports' sticker bat. It is owned by his friend.
MS thanking him for all his help during the early stage of his career. pic.twitter.com/sYtcGE6Qal
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 7, 2024
Having undergone knee surgery earlier this year, Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation and is expected to regain match fitness well before the start of IPL 2024. “He is doing well now. He has started his rehab. He started working in the gym. And, probably in another 10 days he’ll start working in the nets also,” Viswanathan added.
CSK made significant moves during the Players Auction in Dubai on December 19, aiming to defend their IPL title. The team secured six players in total, with New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell emerging as their most expensive acquisition at Rs 14 crore. One of the surprises was the purchase of uncapped Indian batter Sameer Rizvi for Rs 8.4 crore. Additionally, CSK brought back India all-rounder Shardul Thakur following his release from KKR, bolstering their squad for the upcoming season.
