Dhoni, now 43, exhibited his readiness for IPL 2025 while smashing the bowlers around at the Chennai Super Kings net session on Tuesday.
He even launched pacer Matheesha Pathirana’s searing yorker on off-stump over the bowler’s head for a six with a helicopter shot.
“As far as Mahi is concerned, I think we will get to see glimpses of his brilliance because I have a feeling that he might bat at number 7 or number 8. Very much like last year, and we will see him bat between 12 and 20 balls through the season,” said Uthappa.
So, will Dhoni walk away after this season? Uthappa wasn’t ready to predict the road ahead for the five-time IPL winning former CSK captain.
“I don’t think the passion ever dies. MS’ love for the game has not dwindled at all. I think his passion for the game keeps him going. At 43, I think he’s got the fastest hands in the world as a wicketkeeper.
“And if you’ve got those skills and if you’ve got the passion to keep going. I don’t think anything should stop you. I won’t be surprised if he retires at the end of the season. But I won’t be surprised if he even goes on to play for another four seasons after this,” said Uthappa, the JioStar expert, while addressing the media prior to the 18th edition of IPL.
Veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma too will return to the T20 format for the first time after winning last year’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Uthappa felt that both Kohli and Rohit will have fantastic season.
“I don’t think they’ll have even an iota of issues to come out there and smash the living daylights out of bowlers. Virat has really come through in good form. He’s familiar with conditions in Bangalore that he’s always going to thrive there,” he said.
“In the recent past, Rohit hasn’t lived up to his potential as the incredibly dynamic batter that he is in the IPL. But it looks like everything is going his way at this point in time. So, I wouldn’t put it past him to have one of his best seasons in the IPL,” he added.
