MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings are currently in the second spot in the IPL 2023 points table with 13 points. Today this team will play its 12th match of this season and a total 55th match against Delhi Capitals in Chepauk. The team has lost two of its last four matches, while the match against Lucknow was washed out by rain. Chennai won the last match against Mumbai. According to cricket pundits, the challenge for this team to qualify for the playoffs is not more difficult than the rest of the teams. Some people also say that this could be Dhoni's last IPL. However, Dhoni himself has not given any statement on this.

Last season CSK was overshadowed by controversies
Last season, the CSK team struggled a lot and finished in the ninth position. From the captaincy controversy to Jadeja's ouster from the team, Chennai was mired in controversies. Actually, before the 2022 season, Jadeja was appointed the captain of the team. However, Chennai had lost several consecutive matches under his captaincy. In such a situation, Jadeja was dropped from the mid-season captaincy and Dhoni became the captain again. Since then, the performance of the Chennai team has been excellent. Former India head coach and commentator Ravi Shastri analyzed CSK's playoff chances and the 'Dhoni factor' behind the four-time champions' win.

Shastri said this in praise of Dhoni
Shastri said- Dhoni is an expert in making team combinations. This is intuition and they have understanding. Possibly giving consistent chances to a player who didn't do well in 2022 but Dhoni has the belief and foresight to do very well in 2023, backing that player a season in advance would have boosted his confidence. Dhoni always thinks ahead. He must have done that with some players. That wouldn't surprise me. I'm not there with the team and I don't know much, but he thinks that way.

Two playoff matches are to be played in Chennai
Ravi Shastri said- When you look at the points table, CSK's team looks almost certain to reach the playoffs. When this team plays in the playoffs, it becomes more dangerous. The playoffs will have two matches (First Qualifier and Eliminator) in Chennai. In such a situation, CSK is a team that can go a long way because the team is already settled. If there is any tinkering in the team or the playing-11, it will be due to injury. Otherwise, the team management has selected its perfect playing-11.

Raina's statement regarding the retirement
While on the one hand, all the teams are fighting a battle to reach the playoffs, on the other hand, Suresh Raina had recently told that Dhoni had talked to him about retirement. Raina told, "Dhoni told me that I will play one more year after winning the trophy." That means Dhoni is not retiring from IPL after this season. This is good news for the fans. However, even before this, he has answered this. Recently, in the Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants match, commentator Danny Morrison asked Dhoni whether this is his last season. However, Dhoni gave a funny reply to this. He smiled and said, “You have decided that this is my last IPL, not me.

(pc amarujala)