MS Dhoni’s farewell match will be at Chepauk, feels VVS Laxman

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s plea to the BCCI to arrange a farewell match for MS Dhoni sent the legendary wicket-keeper batsman’s fans into a frenzy, but all hope was crushed by former IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla, who confirmed that there will be no farewell match for the veteran as he did not request the BCCI for one.

According to the legendary VVS Laxman, however, Dhoni will get an organic farewell game at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and that, he believes, will be as big an occasion as Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell at the Wankhede seven years ago. 

“I think MS Dhoni’s farewell game will be whenever he plays his last match for CSK. And I can tell you for sure, just like the way Sachin had that farewell match at the Wankhede, I think the farewell match will be at the Chepauk,” Laxman said on Star Sports’ Cricket Connected, reported Times Now. 

“And all the fans, not only at the ground but around the world, not only the Indian fans but all the cricketing fans will be watching that last game of MS whenever that will happen.”

Chennai has been widely regarded by many as Dhoni’s second home, for not only has he been with the city’s subsequent IPL franchise, CSK, since the tournament’s inception in 2008, but the love shown by local Chennaites has sometimes even eclipsed what he gets back home in Ranchi. Laxman feels that the CSK fans will cherish and savour every moment of Dhoni in a yellow shirt in the days, months and years to come, and is also confident that the wicket-keeper batsman will give his everything to help CSK add yet another IPL title to their kitty.

“Number one is we all have to recognise that he (Dhoni) is very passionate about CSK. One of the reasons CSK has been the most successful franchise has been MS Dhoni’s leadership. So, he will go out and he will do everything possible for CSK to win the trophy. But as far as the fans are concerned, I think the euphoria will be there to be seen.

“Till the time he is going to play cricket, he will be captaining CSK. I think each and every movement of MS Dhoni will be watched very closely, will be relished by each and every cricketing fan of his. So, they will enjoy each and every moment MS Dhoni spends on the cricket field.”

There is, however, still skepticism over Dhoni's future even in the IPL and it remains to be seen whether the veteran, who will turn 40 next year, will still be an active cricketer by the time IPL 2021 beckons. The 2020 edition of the IPL, due to the uncontrollable Covid-19 situation in India, will be played across three venues in the UAE.