Suresh Raina Wishes For MS Dhoni's Continued IPL Presence: 'Would Love to See Him Play For 5 More Years'

If Suresh Raina had his say in matters concerning CSK , he would have lobbied for Captain Cool, MS Dhoni , to extend his tenure with the Chennai Super Kings by a considerable margin. Following their record-equalling fifth IPL title win, Dhoni hinted that retirement hasn't crossed his mind yet. Post the 2023 final, amidst speculation, Dhoni kept the door ajar for a potential return for IPL 2024 , contingent upon assessing his physical condition.

With IPL 2024 looming just around the corner, CSK fans are buoyed by the news that their skipper remains unchanged. Dhoni, sporting his trademark long locks and exuding fitness, is set to grace the field in a rejuvenated avatar. The iconic leader, known for his composure and fitness prowess, continues to be a beacon of inspiration for aspiring cricketers, despite approaching the age of 43, prompting calls from his supporters for him to prolong his illustrious career.

In anticipation of the opening clash between CSK and RCB in IPL 2024, Suresh Raina , fondly dubbed 'Chinna Thala' within the CSK fraternity, has voiced his desire for Dhoni to continue donning the yellow jersey for at least another 2 to 3 years, with an ideal scenario seeing him extend his tenure by five more years, provided his fitness remains intact. Raina, also serving as a JioCinema IPL expert, emphasized the importance of Dhoni's future planning, given his age, stating, "He’s 42-years-old. I would love to see him play for five more years, or at least two or three more years."

Raina also weighed in on the succession plan for CSK's captaincy post-Dhoni era, tipping opener Ruturaj Gaikwad as a strong contender. Gaikwad, having been part of the CSK setup for four years, mirrors Dhoni's calm and composed demeanor, making him a natural choice for the leadership role. While all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja briefly assumed the captaincy mantle in IPL 2022 before relinquishing it back to 'Thala' Dhoni, it was under Dhoni's leadership that CSK reclaimed the championship in the subsequent year after failing to make the playoffs in 2022.

Reflecting on Dhoni's legacy, former pacer Zaheer Khan, who shared the 2011 World Cup triumph with MSD, highlighted Dhoni's desire to be remembered as a good human being beyond his cricketing exploits. Zaheer said, "When you’re playing, switching off (from the game) is very important. Cricket is not everything. Every cricketer has to face this eventually. When you step away from the game, you may not have a lot of options. We’ve seen many athletes struggle after retiring because they gave everything to the game, and when they left it, they didn’t know what to do. In this sense, MS Dhoni understood a long time ago that he is passionate about cricket and it is an integral part of his life. But it couldn’t be everything. He keeps doing things outside of the sport. For example, his interest in bikes. He’s always researching them."