MS Dhoni: 'Want to enjoy remaining years of my cricket career like a child'

MS Dhoni: 'Want to enjoy remaining years of my cricket career like a child'

MS Dhoni last played his international nearly six years but has been part of every Indian Premier League (IPL) season so far. The 43-year-old now recently expressed he wants to play his remaining cricket like a "child".

The former India captain, who guided Men in Blue to victories in the 2011 ODI World Cup, the 2007 T20 World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy, last represented the country in international cricket in June 2019.

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Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket in August 2019 but remains an active player in the IPL, continuing to represent Chennai Super Kings, who retained him ahead of last year's mega auction.

Now, having been retired from international cricket for over five years, he will participate as an uncapped player.

"I've retired since 2019, so it will be quite some time. What I've been doing in the meantime is I just want to enjoy cricket for the last, whatever few years, you know, I will be able to play," Dhoni's said on Wednesday during the launch of his app powered by Single.id, as per PTI.

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"I want to enjoy it, how I did as a child when I was in school. When I lived in a colony, 4 o'clock (in the afternoon) was sports time, so we'll go and play cricket more often than not. But if the weather doesn't permit, we used to play football. I want to play with the same kind of innocence… (but it is) easier said than done," he added.

Dhoni said as an India player his focus was always to give his best for the country and everything else came second.

“For me as a cricketer, I always wanted to perform for the Indian cricket team because I've said that in the past also, that not everybody gets a chance to represent the country,” he said.

"For us as cricketers, whenever we went on to the big stage or whenever we were touring, there was a chance for us to win laurels for the country and so for me it was the country that always came first."

Dhoni advised young players to identify what is "good for you" and set the priorities right.

"You always need to figure out what is good for you. When I was playing, I made sure that cricket was a whole for me — nothing else mattered. What time I had to sleep? What time I had to get up? What impact it had on (my) cricket, that was the most important thing," he said.

"You know, all the friendships, the fun, all those can happen later. There is a right time for everything and I felt if you are able to recognise that, that's the best thing you can do (for yourself)."