“It’s not going to be easy” - When Gautam Gambhir predicted a tough IPL season for MS Dhoni

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir had correctly predicted a tough season for erstwhile Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni ahead of the 2020 season. Gambhir had pointed out how the wicketkeeper-batter was playing for the first time after the 2019 World Cup semifinal owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. He pointed out how lack of practice affects rhythm with the bat.

Notably, IPL 2020 was shifted from India to UAE due to the pandemic. Dhoni managed to score just 200 runs in 14 matches (12 innings) at a strike rate of 116.27 without any half-century.

In an old interaction, Gautam Gambhir told Star Sports:

"It depends. I think he has been away from the game for last one year and its not going to be easy because IPL is a proper cricket tournament. The quality of cricket is really up there and facing international quality bowlers is not going to be that easy."

"So I am quite sure that when you haven't played cricket for a year, you want to get back to your best rhythm and you want to try and practice as much as you can," he added.

As a skipper, MS Dhoni managed just six wins in 14 games. The Super Kings finished second-last in the points table despite having equal points with Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals owing to net run rate (NRR).

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2008 IPL stars who will also play in the 2025 season ft. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni will be among five players from 2008 who will also play in the upcoming IPL season. They are Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians), Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Ajinkya Rahane (Kolkata Knight Riders), and Ishant Sharma (Delhi Capitals).

Dhoni was retained as an uncapped player for ₹4 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. The 43-year-old is keen to play for CSK in the upcoming season. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, he said:

"I just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I'm able to play."

"Like how during our childhood we used to go out and play at 4[pm], just enjoying the game. But when you play professional sport it becomes difficult to enjoy the game just like a game. So what I want to do is, there are emotions and commitments, but I want to enjoy the game for the next few years."

MS Dhoni amassed 161 runs in 14 games (11 innings) at a strike rate of 220.54 in the last IPL season.