MS Dhoni can return as a mentor or head coach for CSK if he does not want to continue playing: Shoaib Akhtar
India Today
Former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar said that MS Dhoni could return as player and captain for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) next IPL season if he wants to.
Former Pakistan pace spearhead Shoaib Akhtar believes that MS Dhoni can take over as a mentor or head coach for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) next IPL season if he does not want to continue as a player and a captain.
Akhtar's statement comes after CSK were knocked out of the playoff race by Mumbai Indians after the MS Dhoni-led side lost Match 59 of IPL 2022 by 5 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
Dhoni has scored 199 runs in 12 IPL 2022 matches at an average of 39.80 and a strike rate of over 130. CSK were the second team to be eliminated from the playoff race as the four-time champions joined five-time champions MI, who are at the bottom of the points table with just three wins in 12 matches.
"He can obviously continue playing next season if he wants to. But, if he doesn’t want to continue playing, he can return as a mentor or even a head coach. That would not be a bad role for him. It all depends on Dhoni. He is an asset. Either he is in the team or with the team," Akhtar said while speaking to Sportskeeda.
"CSK’s management looked non-serious this time. Why the captaincy went to Jadeja we do not know. But they need to come back with a clear mind next season.
MS DHONI RETIREMENT?
Akhtar, however, also said that nobody can read what's going on in MS Dhoni's mind and he might also announce his retirement with another song. Notably, Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2022 with an Instagram post, which had a montage capturing his India career and a classic Bollywood song playing alongside it.
