New Delhi: Virat Kohli hinted at MS Dhoni’s retirement ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s much-important IPL 2024 clash against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday. With Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad already booking their playoff spots, the RCB vs CSK clash is turning out to be knockout encounter before the final stage kicks off next week. While a win would be enough for CSK to enter the playoffs, RCB need to win by 18 runs or chase the target in 18.1 overs to go past Chennai’s net run-rate and qualify for the playoffs.
Speculations are rife that this might be Dhoni’s last season in cricket. Adding fuel to the speculations, Kohli said, “For fans to see him again in any stadium in India, obviously it’s a big thing. Me and him playing again together, maybe for the last time, you never know. That’s a special thing.”
Both Kohli and Dhoni have been the stalwarts of Indian cricket. While both have ODI World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy for India together, that hasn’t been the case when it came to IPL. Notably, Dhoni led CSK to IPL title five times while Kohli is yet to put his hand on the coveted trophy. The nearest Kohli could come was in the finals of IPL thrice but lost on all occasions. RCB played IPL finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016. In fact, Kohli was the captain when RCB lost the 2016 final to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
In IPL 2024 too, RCB didn’t had best of the starts. In the first eight games, RCB managed just one win before winning five matches on the bounce to jump in the middle of the table. On the other hand, CSK had a mixed season so far under new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.
With 14 points from 13 games, CSK are sitting fourth in the points table. RCB are three spots behind with 12 points from same number of games.
