Is this IPL is swansong, no I have ample time to decide, says Dhoni

Chennai: Keeping the scores of yellow brigade fans guessing, iconic CSK skipper M.S.Dhoni, did not rule out that this was not his last IPL and said he has ample time to decide on it. Speaking at the post match presentation as he led CSK to the tenth final last night, Dhoni, replying to (Fans in Chennai…. will they see you again over here?), said “I don’t know,”.

“I have 8-9 months to decide. I have ample time to decide. The auction is in December. I will always come to CSK. I have been out of home from January, been practicing since March, so we will see”, he said, cheering the fans, that he was yet take a call on calling it quits as player for CSK amid reports that this will be his last season.

“Whether I will be in the team or in the bench, will decide…there is ample time”, he added, keeping the fans guessing for this oft-repeated raised question. On entering the final for the 10th time, Dhoni said with the crowd cheering for him. “I think IPL is too big to say it is just another final”. “It is no longer eight teams. Ten teams makes it all the more tougher. Hard work of two months. Lot of character showed by our players. Everyone has contributed. Yes, middle order hasn’t got ample opportunity but they have chipped in.”, Dhoni said.

On his desire that he too wanted to bowl first too today after GT skipper Hardik Pandya took the same decision, the CSK skipper said “It was simple. GT are good chasers so we wanted to get them in. But it was a good toss to lose.” “The way it turned for 30 minutes…. and when Jaddu gets conditions like that, he is hard to hit. Not to forget the partnership between him and Moeen too”, he added. On the performance of his fast bowlers, he said Young fast bowlers…2008 onwards there is always an uncapped fast bowler. We try to create an enviroment.

We reiterate what the fast bowler’s strength is. We try to help them improve. And we try to help them explore their bowling. The support staff – Bravo, Eric – are also there, but when they are standing they are alone”. “You see the wicket, you see conditions, and you keep adjusting the field. I can be an annoying captain because I change the field every time. It can be annoying but I believe in my gut feet. That’s why I keep telling the fielders to keep an eye on me”, he added. Man of the match Ruturaj Gaikwad who scored 44-ball 60, said the last 3-4 games in Chennai have been different.

They’ve gotten slightly slower, slightly sticky. “So I had to adapt my batsmanship. This was one of my days where I was going well. (Good partnership with Faf earlier, now with Conway) Both are obviously great international players. That helps me personally. Faf is someone who is aggressive from ball one while Devon has great batsmanship with gaps and rotating strike. He has been a great support especially in tough conditions”, he added.

UNI