‘They won’t get a better option’ – Wasim Akram makes his pick for MS Dhoni’s successor in CSK amid IPl 2023

MS Dhoni, rumoured to be considering calling it quits on an extraordinary journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL), is already embracing the sunset phase of his iconic career. Dhoni, one of the finest captains in the sport’s history, regressed for the nth time in the IPL on Sunday by making a brief appearance for the Yellow Brigade against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Chepauk.

Dhoni, who was reinstalled as the ‘Yellow Army’s’ leader last season, has helped CSK win four IPL championships in the IPL, the richest T20 competition. Wasim Akram, a renowned Pakistani cricketer, has personally chosen MS Dhoni’s ideal replacement at Chennai Super Kings at a time when the IPL 2023 is anticipated to be Dhoni’s final game of competitive cricket.

‘Rahane is an excellent choice to lead Chennai if Dhoni says he’s had enough’ – Wasim Akram

Akram thinks CSK have a backup batter in case Dhoni decides to retire from IPL cricket at the end of the current season. When MS Dhoni announces his retirement, the former Pakistan captain endorsed veteran Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane to take over.

“CSK had tried Ravindra Jadeja as captain in IPL 2022 and saw that his own performances were getting affected. They had to change the captain. I think they won’t get a better option than Rahane, as he can become consistent and is a local player. We have seen that local players are more successful in franchise cricket,” Akram told Sportskeeda.

Senior batsman Rahane underwent a dramatic transformation in the IPL 2023 and has now solidified his spot in the CSK lineup after contributing several game-changing hits for Dhoni’s team. At the IPL 2023 auction, Rahane was acquired by CSK for his base price of INR 50 lakh. Akram, a former Pakistani pacer, wants CSK to win this year’s illustrious trophy under Dhoni’s guidance. Four-time champions CSK are now in fourth place in the IPL 2023 points standings, with Dhoni at the helm. This season, Dhoni and company have accumulated 10 points in 9 games.

“As for foreign players, they don’t even remember players’ names, so how can they lead? So, I think Rahane is an excellent choice to lead Chennai if Dhoni says he’s had enough. CSK might have their own plans, but they are a franchise that plans by putting a lot of thought, epitomized by Stephen Fleming, who knows the team culture inside and out, and the players also trust him fully,” Akram added.