Reports have emerged that Sanju Samson will be traded to the Chennai Super Kings. If the deal were to materialize and Samson were to become a Chennai player next year. Former CSK cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath strongly believes that, regardless of the deal, Dhoni will still continue to start in the playing XI and not play as an impact sub.
“MS Dhoni definitely won’t play as an impact player. I don’t think MS Dhoni will play as an impact player. If he plays, he will feature as a keeper. The main reason of Dhoni playing is he needs to be out there at the Chepauk. As an impact player, he might come out to bat only in the final two overs. We don’t know if he comes out to bat in that case. I don’t think that’s going to happen, that’s my observation, knowing CSK and Dhoni. He might not even play the full season but he will be there as a wicketkeeper, not sure as captain. But he will definitely be as a keeper on the field. He said he will be on the field to play. It will not happen that Dhoni is off the field and leave someone like Sanju Samson to keep wickets. He will take this decision and speak to Sanju Samson,” said Badrinath on Star Sports.
Badrinath even went on to say that even the skipper of Super Kings is Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dhoni still has some control over the game.
“That’s my understanding, I don’t think MS Dhoni is going to be an impact player at all. Either he is going to play or call it, ‘I’m done’. Look at these visuals, this is MS Dhoni, this is the value he carries, those small adjustments, some conversation with the bowlers. Even though Ruturaj Gaikwad is the captain, he still has some control over the proceedings. That’s where his value is,” he added.
