Why MS Dhoni returning as Impact Player for CSK in IPL 2024 makes no sense

If there was one cricketer whose name the crowd chanted the most during IPL 2023, it was Mahendra Singh Dhoni's. Irrespective of his performance with the bat, the fans in every stadium shouted out Dhoni’s name whenever he came to the field. The 41-year-old cricketer. who has led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) since 2008, went on to win his fifth IPL trophy this year. 

One wonders whether the fortunes of CSK are tied with Dhoni. For example, last year CSK had a terrible outing when Dhoni handed over the captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja. The team finished at the ninth position on the table.

When Dhoni returned as the skipper of the team in 2023, the team saw a remarkable change, and despite an average bowling set-up, it went on to win the trophy against the best team of the tournament in the finals, Gujarat Titans.

This is the reason why fans want Dhoni to continue playing for the side next year too. Dhoni’s return to the team has been given a nod from the bowling coach Dwayne Bravo also. The former CSK player, who now is part of the set-up as the bowling coach said that Dhoni can return as an Impact Player.

However, the question is, will it be as simple as it looks for Dhoni. Will inclusion as an Impact Player fulfill the requirements of the team.

Why Dhoni wouldn't be an ideal Impact Player

For Dhoni, the difficult thing would be that if he is in the side as a batter in the form of Impact Player, then he won’t be able to captain the side in the second innings of the game. 

Chennai needs MS Dhoni as the skipper of the side so that he is there on the ground and rescues the team from tricky situations. As an Impact Player, he will not be able to lead the side in matches.

The Impact Player rule is for a bowler who has contributed his part and doesn’t need to bat or a batter who has played his part with the bat and doesn’t need to bowl. 
As per the newly introduced rule by the BCCI in the IPL, the impact rule feature allowed the teams to include a 12th player into the side, replacing a player who has performed his role. 

So, playing Dhoni as Impact Player won't work for CSK because then he won't be able to wicket keep the wickets or captain the side.

This was also the argument raised by former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag who said that the Impact player rule doesn’t apply on MS Dhoni. "Impact player rule is for someone who doesn’t field but bats or bowls. The rule doesn’t apply on Dhoni because he is playing only for captaincy," Cricbuzz quoted Sehwag as saying

Dhoni’s fitness also a big concern

Dhoni played with injured knees in the last few matches of IPL 2023. The ace cricketer who was known for his finishing knocks couldn’t even cross 20-run mark in the last 10 matches he played for CSK. Though he managed to keep wickets, his injury affected his batting.

So, Dhoni making a return as Impact Player  doesn't make sense because as an Impact player he would most likely be batting down the order as a finisher, and his fitness will play a crucial role.

Will Dhoni return as a regular player?

If he successfully recovers from his knee injury, Dhoni can return as the captain of CSK. Not as an Impact player, but as a regular player. At 42, we have seen cricketers like Shane Warne and Brad Hogg play in domestic leagues. 

If not as a player, Dhoni will most likely be with CSK as a mentor. So, it seems like Thala will be with the CSK franchise for a long time.