MS Dhoni discussed his life post-international retirement in an open conversation, while fans speculate if he has played his final IPL match. MS Dhoni, one of cricket’s biggest legends, has given the game more than perhaps any other player.
Despite the Chennai Super Kings’ early exit from the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season, Dhoni entertained fans with his T20 cameos. If the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru was his last, he went out in style, hitting a 110-meter six before his final dismissal.
At 42, Dhoni prepared diligently for the IPL’s challenges, working hard to maintain his fitness and compete against younger players, as he revealed in a candid chat.
‘Don’t take the result out of it, take the learnings’: MS Dhoni
“The toughest thing is… I am not playing cricket throughout the year. So I have to be fit. Once I come, you are competing against youngsters who are fit and playing international cricket. Professional sport is not easy, nobody gives you a discount for age.”
“If you want to play, you have to be as fit as the other guy. Age does not really give that grace to you. So, eating habits, a bit of training and all those things are there. Social media, thankfully, I am not on social media, so there’s less distraction,” Dhoni said on Dubai Eye 103.8 YouTube channel.
It’s been some time since Dhoni retired from international cricket. His last appearance was in the 2019 ODI World Cup. Since then, the IPL has been his only professional cricketing commitment. However, off the field, Dhoni has been pursuing other passions such as cars, bikes, and farming.
“Once I quit international cricket, I wanted to spend a bit more time with my family. But, at that same time, to be mentally active, to have that passion to stay focussed — for me, I love farming, for me it is the motorbikes, I have started getting into vintage cars.”
“ These things de-stress me. If am stressed, I would maybe go to the garage, spend a couple of hours over there and I will just be fine, I would come back,” he said.
“I have always felt growing up with a pet, whether it is a cat or a dog… I prefer dogs though. They have unconditional love towards you. I have said this in a previous interview, even if I lose a game and come back, my dog greets me the same way,” he added.
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