CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad talks about MS Dhoni's retirement, recalls scenes in CSK camp

Ruturaj said, 'I did not dare to ask him because we were all sad. It was not easily accepted that a player of his level would retire like this.

Former India captain and star cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni said goodbye to international cricket on 15 August 2020, Dhoni surprised everyone by announcing his retirement through social media. Similarly, when Dhoni had decided to retire from Test cricket, even then everyone was surprised. Dhoni is currently seen playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL)

When Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Dhoni was asked in his last match of IPL 2020 if this is your last IPL, he replied 'Definitely not (not at all)', regarding Dhoni's retirement from IPL.

When Gaikwad was asked about Dhoni's retirement from IPL, he said, "I have no idea about it. I remember he announced his retirement on August 15 last year. We were practising with about 10-12 people in Chennai that day, before leaving for Dubai. Our practice session ended at around 6:30 pm and then at 7 pm we all sat down to have dinner with Mahi Bhai and suddenly someone told me that Mahi Bhai has announced his retirement on Instagram.

No one had any idea what was happening. No conversation. Nobody knew anything. So you can't understand anything with Dhoni. Anything can happen.'

The young batsman further said that no one dared to ask any question about Dhoni's retirement. All the players were surprised and it took us three-four days to accept it.

Ruturaj said, 'I did not dare to ask him because we were all sad. It was not easily accepted that a player of his level would retire like this. It took two to three days to accept it. Not only me but everyone present there did not realize that Dhoni would take such a big decision.

Source: NYOOOZ DESK - IPL 2019