'Thoda aur bhaiya': Sanju Samson requests MS Dhoni to postpone IPL retirement plan ahead of new season - Watch

Sanju Samson wants MS Dhoni to play more IPL seasons. (Photo: BCCI/IPL)

Uncertainty surrounds whether the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be MS Dhoni's last, but Sanju Samson, like millions of fans, hopes for "thoda aur" (a little more) from the legend. At a recent event where both players were present, Samson expressed what countless Dhoni admirers wish to say to the former India captain.

"When Dhoni is playing in the IPL, people keep talking about when is he retiring. In my mind, I am like, 'thoda aur bhaiya'," said Samson according to Times of India (TOI). Sanju Samson will captain the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the upcoming IPL season.

VIDEO | Here's what Indian wicket-keeper and batter Sanju Samson said about MS Dhoni's retirement from the IPL."Whenever people say that Dhoni should retire from the IPL, I always feel 'Thoda Aur' for Dhoni."(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/bGw0g7Y8t7
Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 19, 2025

Dhoni broke a million hearts along with shocking his coach and teammates as well when he announced retirement from Test cricket. In August 2020, he called it quit from all formats of the game. Since that time, there have been questions whether MS Dhoni, the five-time IPL winning captain will play the next IPL or not. Since his international retirement, Dhoni has only played in the IPL.

In IPL history, the 43-year-old MS Dhoni stands as the sixth-highest run-scorer, having accumulated 5,243 runs in 264 matches and 229 innings. He boasts an average of 39.12 and a strike rate of 137.53, with 24 half-centuries to his credit.

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

Ahead of the upcoming IPL season, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) retained Dhoni as an uncapped player for Rs 4 crore. This was made possible by an IPL regulation introduced before last year's auction, allowing teams to categorize players as uncapped if they hadn't played international cricket for five years.

MS Dhoni - A pivotal figure in Indian cricket

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been a pivotal figure in Indian cricket, leading the team to historic victories in major tournaments. Under his captaincy, India clinched the T20 World Cup in 2007, the ODI World Cup in 2011, and the Champions Trophy in 2013.

His impact in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is equally remarkable. As the captain of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Dhoni has secured five IPL titles, sharing the record with Rohit Sharma. He remains the most successful IPL captain, with 133 wins in 226 matches, boasting a win percentage of 58.84.

In recent years, Dhoni has adapted his role to that of a finisher, facing only a few deliveries per innings. Despite this shift, his power-hitting remains intact, and he continues to display the same aggressive intent at the crease.