MS Dhoni has reached Chennai ahead of IPL 2022 auction. Dhoni will start the franchise’s preparations for the bidding war that is to take place in the second week of February.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 auction preparations have begun. Away from international cricketing duties, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni reached Tamil Nadu ahead of the mega auction to begin preparations for February’s event.
Dhoni’s days as an international cricketer might be well behind him but he still remains among the most popular celebrities in the country. In cricket, his popularity knows no bounds. As Dhoni marked his arrival in Chennai on Thursday, CSK shared a heartwarming tweet on social media, welcoming their ‘Thala’.
CSK are the defending champions going into season 15, having won the tournament in 2021. Over a period of time, there was a sense of suspense over Dhoni’s participation in the 2022 edition of the tournament. When Dhoni was asked about his continuity in the league, he had remained coy, citing the mega auction as a reason that might see his playing days coming to an end.
“I will think about it, there is a lot of time, right now we are just in November. IPL 2022 will be played in April,” said Dhoni at an event in Chennai.
At the end of the IPL 2021 season, Dhoni had said that his participation depends a lot upon how and when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decides to organise the 15th edition of the league.
“Again I’ve said it before, it depends on BCCI. With two new teams coming in, we have to decide what is good for CSK. It’s not about me being there in top-three or four. It’s about making a strong core to ensure the franchise doesn’t suffer. The core group, we have to have a hard look to see who can contribute for the next 10 years,” Dhoni told host broadcaster Star Sports at the post-match presentation after winning the IPL 2021 title.
Whether this season would be Dhoni’s last at CSK as a player, or not, remains to be seen.
