Time for Great Finisher MS Dhoni to call it a day?

The iconic player, Mahender Singh Dhoni, who bid goodbye to international cricket, and captaincy at apt moments in his career, seems to be finding it difficult to step away from his place as the heart of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) IPL franchise.  

On another front, Dhoni, who is nearing 44, is believed to have suffered a muscle tear, which pushed him lower down the batting order — in a few of the matches in the ongoing tournament, he came out to bat at No. 9, before his team was knocked out of the reckoning for the play-offs. We spoke to a few medical experts on whether Dhoni is navigating the downward slope of his playing days. “Well, age is bound to catch up. This sport is for young men, and at 43, some amount of slowdown is normal, in my opinion,” says Mumbai’s renowned orthosurgeon, Ashutosh Chaudhary, who specialises in knee surgery. “Also, different people will take different periods of time to recuperate and be back to good form; and not all will regain the same form – that’s something one has to accept.”  

Echoing the surgeon’s views, Deckline Leitao, a sports conditioning and fitness specialist, says, “At Dhoni’s age, most sportspersons are looking at the twilight of their career, because the body will definitely slow down with regard to reflexes and power. In many high-impact and power sports this happens even earlier. Dhoni’s knee surgery last year and the suspected muscle tear this year were a double whammy. Coupled with his reduced capacity to recover at his age, there will definitely be a slowdown in his physical capacity. And though his batting skills and mental abilities are legendary, the body can only do so much.”

Can Dhoni be as physically fit as he was in his younger days, with support from the best sports science and sports medicine experts, nutrition, rehabilitation, etc.?

“The simple answer is no,” says Leitao.

Can Dhoni continue playing below his physical best?

“The answer is yes,” the fitness expert feels. “He can still play, but he won’t be able to play in his best form, especially not against any in-form young opposition.”

The saying ‘Age is just a number’ sounds nice, but it doesn’t work that way in sport, else no one would’ve ever retired,” he points out, and adds, “‘Time spares none’ is a more appropriate saying in this context. Though nobody likes to see their sports heroes slow down and go past their prime, that’s just nature taking its course. The brutal truth is that competitive sport is for the young and fit.”

Dhoni also has to look at leading a healthy retired life and has to therefore think of his long-term physical wellbeing.

Highlighting another perspective, Leitao says, “Though we might only look at physical factors, with a player of Dhoni’s calibre and fan following, there may also be pressure from sponsors and franchises and who wouldn’t mind some extra crores in their bank account? Therefore, along with physical capacity, various other factors will also determine his retirement plans.”

Dhoni is reportedly planning to go to London to see a specialist for his recent injury. Apart from the fact that he and his franchise can afford the expense, the decision may also be influenced by the need to avoid media attention.

“Many players prefer to go overseas for opinions and consultations about injuries because in countries with a strong sporting culture, there are a greater number of professionals who have treated and trained many world class athletes. Though sports medicine and rehabilitation are evolving rapidly in India, the availability of top professionals and facilities is still lacking, Leitao notes.

Health considerations apart, the fact remains that many sincere Dhoni fans believe that the last IPL should have been his last.

Maybe it’s a little difficult to let go, when one trains all their life for a particular thing and achieves the unthinkable. No one bothers about yesteryear players. It’s difficult to give up at the top, I guess. Look at Madhuri Dikshit. She left at the top of her career, but now is back to doing soap commercials. Maybe it’s the money, maybe it’s the attention.” — Ashutosh Chaudhary, Mumbai’s renowned ortho surgeon

“Though we might only look at physical factors, with a player of Dhoni’s calibre and fan following, there may also be pressure from sponsors and franchises and who wouldn’t mind some extra crores in their bank account? Therefore, along with physical capacity, various other factors will also determine his retirement plans.” — Deckline Leitao, sports conditioning and fitness specialist,

Dhoni, who is nearing 44, is believed to have suffered a muscle tear, which pushed him lower down the batting order — in a few of the matches in the ongoing tournament, he came out to bat at No. 9. Age is bound to catch up. This sport is for young men, and at 43, some amount of slowdown is normal