India Cricket Updates: Dhoni just led Chennai Super Kings to their fourth IPL championship, and there's a chance he'll return in 2022 to play in front of his home fans at the Chepauk.
KL Rahul, India's opening batsman, believes MS Dhoni, who is mentoring the Indian team for the 2021 T20 World Cup, can give any cricketer a run for their money. Despite being on the other side of 40, Rahul claims he can smash the farthest sixes, defeating muscular youths.
"None of us are sure that IPL 2021 final was his last game," Rahul said during a Clubhouse session on 10 years of Red Bull Campus Cricket.
"I think Dhoni can give any of us stiff competition, he definitely is a guy who can hit the ball farthest, he is very strong and he is good (while running) between the wickets. He looks the fittest, it is good fun to have him," Rahul added.
In what looks to be a difficult trip, Rahul, who is slated to open with Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup, which begins on Sunday against Pakistan, claimed that there could not have been a greater "guru" than Dhoni.
"Obviously, MS Dhoni (being) back with the team feels amazing because we have played under him, and we have looked towards him as a mentor even when he was our captain," he said.
Dhoni's presence in the dressing room, according to the aggressive right-hander who hit a brilliant fifty against England in India's first warm-up match, gives the entire squad a feeling of peace.
"We loved having him in the dressing room when he was the captain. We loved the calmness. We have all looked up to him to help us out, to have him here is amazing.
"This gives us a sense of calmness, I have enjoyed spending time with him in the first two to three days, and it has been a lot of fun. Looking forward to chewing his brain about cricket, captaincy and all things cricket," he added.
Rahul has been one of India's most consistent live T20 players, with numbers of 659, 593, 670, and 626 in the previous four IPL seasons. He believes that his IPL performance would boost his confidence ahead of the World Cup.
"Playing consistently has helped me. The six-seven IPL games have helped us adapt to the conditions. The experience of playing in UAE last year helped me know what shots to play and will put me in good stead in preparing for the upcoming World Cup," said the opener.