The IPL 2021 edition was a hit. It became the first-ever season to be held in two halves after the first leg got interrupted due to the second wave of the Covid-19 virus in India. UAE came forward to host the second and final leg, which saw the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the finale, by 27 runs, to clinch their fourth title.

The Dhoni-led Yellow Army had a tough time in IPL 2020. Being without some of their key players, CSK lost the plot in the initial stages to be reeling behind and didn't qualify for the playoffs for the first-time in the tournament-history. However, Dhoni &amp; Co. recovered in style and played some attractive cricket to lift their fourth IPL championship this year.

CSK have now also gone onto break more records and achieve a new feat as they toppled Virat Kohli-starrer Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to become the most tweeted about IPL team on Twitter in the calendar year (as per Twitter India).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohlis-post-for-ms-dhoni-during-ipl-14-adjudged-most-liked-and-retweeted-tweet-for-sports-in-2021-436631">Virat Kohli's post for MS Dhoni during IPL 14 adjudged most liked and retweeted tweet for sports in 2021</a>

CSK's official Twitter handle (@ChennaiIPL) was the most tweeted account of an IPL team on the microblogging site this year, followed by the likes of RCB&nbsp;(@rcbtweets), MI (@mipaltan) and RR (@rajasthanroyals).&nbsp;

In addition, Twitter India revealed that the Yellow Army's iconic hashtags #WhistlePodu and #Yellove were the most Tweeted catchphrases in sports this year. Not only this, the CSK captain and veteran wicketkeeper Dhoni attained the second spot after RCB's former captain Kohli in the list of most tweeted about Indian athletes on the social media platform in 2021.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/most-searched-topic-in-india-in-2021-ipl-atop-3-other-sporting-events-in-top-5-in-googles-year-end-list-435481">Most-searched topic in India in 2021: IPL atop, 3 other sporting events in top-5 in Google's year-end list</a>

Talking about IPL 2022, the upcoming edition will see two more teams -- in the form of Lucknow and Ahmedabad -- join the eight existing franchises. Prior to the season, a mega auction is set to be held early next year (in January).&nbsp;

The IPL 2021 edition was a hit. It became the first-ever season to be held in two halves after the first leg got interrupted due to the second wave of the Covid-19 virus in India.

The IPL 2021 edition was a hit. It became the first-ever season to be held in two halves after the first leg got interrupted due to the second wave of the Covid-19 virus in India. UAE came forward to host the second and final leg, which saw the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the finale, by 27 runs, to clinch their fourth title. The Dhoni-led Yellow Army had a tough time in IPL 2020. Being without some of their key players, CSK lost the plot in the initial stages to be reeling behind and didn't qualify for the playoffs for the first-time in the tournament-history. However, Dhoni & Co. recovered in style and played some attractive cricket to lift their fourth IPL championship this year. CSK have now also gone onto break more records and achieve a new feat as they toppled Virat Kohli-starrer Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to become the most tweeted about IPL team on Twitter in the calendar year (as per Twitter India). ALSO READ | Virat Kohli's post for MS Dhoni during IPL 14 adjudged most liked and retweeted tweet for sports in 2021 CSK's official Twitter handle (@ChennaiIPL) was the most tweeted account of an IPL team on the microblogging site this year, followed by the likes of RCB (@rcbtweets), MI (@mipaltan) and RR (@rajasthanroyals). In addition, Twitter India revealed that the Yellow Army's iconic hashtags #WhistlePodu and #Yellove were the most Tweeted catchphrases in sports this year. Not only this, the CSK captain and veteran wicketkeeper Dhoni attained the second spot after RCB's former captain Kohli in the list of most tweeted about Indian athletes on the social media platform in 2021. ALSO READ | Most-searched topic in India in 2021: IPL atop, 3 other sporting events in top-5 in Google's year-end list Talking about IPL 2022, the upcoming edition will see two more teams -- in the form of Lucknow and Ahmedabad -- join the eight existing franchises. Prior to the season, a mega auction is set to be held early next year (in January).

MS Dhoni-led CSK topple Kohli's RCB as four-time winners adjudged most tweeted about IPL team in 2021

Ravi Shastri's tenure as Team India's head coach ended with the national side's exit from the T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Under Shastri, India achieved wholesome success across formats but couldn't end their eight-year-long ICC-title drought.

In Tests, Shastri guided India to the No. 1 rankings and the WTC final. In limited-overs, India won bilateral series in SENA countries, won bilateral ODIs in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, dominated at home and reached the semi-finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup.

Recently, Shastri spilled the beans on various aspects in Indian cricket during his tenure as the head coach, from mid-2017 to late 2021. During his interaction, he opened up on Ambati Rayudu's controversial omission from the CWC'19 squad.

"I had no say in that. But I wasn't okay with three wicketkeepers being picked for the World Cup. Either Ambati or Shreyas could've come in. What was the logic in having MS Dhoni, Rishabh and Dinesh all together? But I never interfered with the selectors' work, except when I was asked for feedback or as part of a general discussion," Shastri told the Times of India.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/some-in-bcci-made-sure-i-dont-get-the-job-ex-india-head-coach-ravi-shastri-makes-glaring-remark-435719">'Some in BCCI made sure I don't get the job': Ex-India head coach Ravi Shastri makes glaring remark</a>

To this, former selector and spinner Sarandeep Singh -- who was part of the MSK Prasad-led selection committee who named the WC squad -- has reacted and slammed Shastri's comments. "All the three wicket-keepers are very good as batsmen. A selector does not interfere in selection. Rishabh Pant was selected when Shikhar Dhawan got injured during the World Cup. We already had an opener in KL Rahul,"&nbsp;Sarandeep Singh told ANI.

He further asserted, "So, we were looking for someone to come and bat in the middle order and play big shots. This is the reason why Rishabh Pant was in the team. But to pick playing eleven is team management's call. The selection committee does not interfere in it. In the 2019 World Cup if you are looking at selection of Rishabh Pant then he was not their first choice. MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik were in the team and we were winning all the matches. We even topped the table. But suddenly with these things coming, it is upsetting for us because we did our job fairly."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-is-countering-every-point-intelligently-ex-pak-captain-reacts-to-hitmans-comments-on-virat-kohli-436601">Rohit is countering every point intelligently: Ex-Pak captain reacts to Hitman's comments on Virat Kohli</a>

He added, "We travelled all the time, we saw domestic matches in which batsmen, bowlers or all-rounders are doing well. There is nothing like that we never share anything and we just have things on the table and we say that this is the team. The captain is also sitting in the meeting all the time."

India played the semi-finals of the CWC'19 versus New Zealand and lost the thrilling contest by 18 runs at Old Trafford, Manchester.

At present, Kohli has been removed as the limited-overs captain and replaced by Rohit Sharma. Team India is gearing up for their tour of South Africa, comprising three ODIs and Tests each. Under new coach Rahul Dravid, India will play their tour opener on December 26, in Centurion, with the Test series set to be held first.

Ravi Shastri's tenure as Team India's head coach ended with the national side's exit from the T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Under Shastri, India achieved wholesome success across formats but couldn't end their eight-year-long ICC-title drought.

Ravi Shastri's tenure as Team India's head coach ended with the national side's exit from the T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Under Shastri, India achieved wholesome success across formats but couldn't end their eight-year-long ICC-title drought. In Tests, Shastri guided India to the No. 1 rankings and the WTC final. In limited-overs, India won bilateral series in SENA countries, won bilateral ODIs in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, dominated at home and reached the semi-finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup. Recently, Shastri spilled the beans on various aspects in Indian cricket during his tenure as the head coach, from mid-2017 to late 2021. During his interaction, he opened up on Ambati Rayudu's controversial omission from the CWC'19 squad. "I had no say in that. But I wasn't okay with three wicketkeepers being picked for the World Cup. Either Ambati or Shreyas could've come in. What was the logic in having MS Dhoni, Rishabh and Dinesh all together? But I never interfered with the selectors' work, except when I was asked for feedback or as part of a general discussion," Shastri told the Times of India. ALSO READ | 'Some in BCCI made sure I don't get the job': Ex-India head coach Ravi Shastri makes glaring remark To this, former selector and spinner Sarandeep Singh -- who was part of the MSK Prasad-led selection committee who named the WC squad -- has reacted and slammed Shastri's comments. "All the three wicket-keepers are very good as batsmen. A selector does not interfere in selection. Rishabh Pant was selected when Shikhar Dhawan got injured during the World Cup. We already had an opener in KL Rahul," Sarandeep Singh told ANI. He further asserted, "So, we were looking for someone to come and bat in the middle order and play big shots. This is the reason why Rishabh Pant was in the team. But to pick playing eleven is team management's call. The selection committee does not interfere in it. In the 2019 World Cup if you are looking at selection of Rishabh Pant then he was not their first choice. MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik were in the team and we were winning all the matches. We even topped the table. But suddenly with these things coming, it is upsetting for us because we did our job fairly." ALSO READ | Rohit is countering every point intelligently: Ex-Pak captain reacts to Hitman's comments on Virat Kohli He added, "We travelled all the time, we saw domestic matches in which batsmen, bowlers or all-rounders are doing well. There is nothing like that we never share anything and we just have things on the table and we say that this is the team. The captain is also sitting in the meeting all the time." India played the semi-finals of the CWC'19 versus New Zealand and lost the thrilling contest by 18 runs at Old Trafford, Manchester. At present, Kohli has been removed as the limited-overs captain and replaced by Rohit Sharma. Team India is gearing up for their tour of South Africa, comprising three ODIs and Tests each. Under new coach Rahul Dravid, India will play their tour opener on December 26, in Centurion, with the Test series set to be held first.

The captain is also sitting in meeting: Former selector reacts to Shastri's remark on India's CWC'19 squad

Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni's bromance is well known in the cricketing fraternity. While Dhoni is much senior to Kohli, the latter thrived under his leadership and became a household name in the country post the retirements of stalwarts such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, etc.

On the other hand, Dhoni continued to serve Indian cricket for over two years under his successor Kohli and helped the 33-year-old become a better captain. Hence, the two share a great camaraderie both on and off the field. A fine example of their healthy relationship was on display when Kohli lavished praise on Dhoni after the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper's 6-ball 18* led the Yellow Army to a thrilling 4-wicket win over Delhi Capitals (DC) in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2021.

Dhoni, who came out to bat in the penultimate over with CSK needing 24 off 11 balls, had a string of poor outings prior to DC versus CSK Qualifier 1 clash, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. However, he turned it around when it mattered the most to take Chennai to their ninth IPL final and, thus, silenced his critics in style.

Following his knock, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Kohli couldn't keep calm and praised Dhoni.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/most-searched-topic-in-india-in-2021-ipl-atop-3-other-sporting-events-in-top-5-in-googles-year-end-list-435481">Most-searched topic in India in 2021: IPL atop, 3 other sporting events in top-5 in Google's year-end list</a>

"Anddddd the king is back the greatest finisher ever in the game. Made me jump Outta my seat once again tonight. @msdhoni," Kohli had tweeted on October 10.

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Anddddd the king is back the greatest finisher ever in the game. Made me jump Outta my seat once again tonight.<a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a>
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1447265301934993413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Thus, Kohli's heartfelt post for Dhoni has become the most liked and retweeted tweet for sports in 2021.&nbsp;The methodology used by Twitter was based on the total number of retweets/likes by Twitter accounts in India spanning between January 1 to November 15. So far, his post for Dhoni has garnered over 92k retweets and above 5.5k likes.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-is-countering-every-point-intelligently-ex-pak-captain-reacts-to-hitmans-comments-on-virat-kohli-436601">Rohit is countering every point intelligently: Ex-Pak captain reacts to Hitman's comments on Virat Kohli</a>

Talking about IPL 14, Dhoni-led CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the finale to win their fourth IPL title. Before IPL 2022, a mega auction is set to be held early next year as the upcoming season will also see two new teams take part in the cash-rich league.

Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni's bromance is well known in the cricketing fraternity. While Dhoni is much senior to Kohli, the latter thrived under his leadership and became a household name in the country post the retirements of stalwarts such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, etc.

Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni's bromance is well known in the cricketing fraternity. While Dhoni is much senior to Kohli, the latter thrived under his leadership and became a household name in the country post the retirements of stalwarts such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, etc. On the other hand, Dhoni continued to serve Indian cricket for over two years under his successor Kohli and helped the 33-year-old become a better captain. Hence, the two share a great camaraderie both on and off the field. A fine example of their healthy relationship was on display when Kohli lavished praise on Dhoni after the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper's 6-ball 18* led the Yellow Army to a thrilling 4-wicket win over Delhi Capitals (DC) in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2021. Dhoni, who came out to bat in the penultimate over with CSK needing 24 off 11 balls, had a string of poor outings prior to DC versus CSK Qualifier 1 clash, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. However, he turned it around when it mattered the most to take Chennai to their ninth IPL final and, thus, silenced his critics in style. Following his knock, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Kohli couldn't keep calm and praised Dhoni. ALSO READ | Most-searched topic in India in 2021: IPL atop, 3 other sporting events in top-5 in Google's year-end list "Anddddd the king is back the greatest finisher ever in the game. Made me jump Outta my seat once again tonight. @msdhoni," Kohli had tweeted on October 10. Anddddd the king is back the greatest finisher ever in the game. Made me jump Outta my seat once again tonight.@msdhoni — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) October 10, 2021 × Thus, Kohli's heartfelt post for Dhoni has become the most liked and retweeted tweet for sports in 2021. The methodology used by Twitter was based on the total number of retweets/likes by Twitter accounts in India spanning between January 1 to November 15. So far, his post for Dhoni has garnered over 92k retweets and above 5.5k likes. ALSO READ | Rohit is countering every point intelligently: Ex-Pak captain reacts to Hitman's comments on Virat Kohli Talking about IPL 14, Dhoni-led CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the finale to win their fourth IPL title. Before IPL 2022, a mega auction is set to be held early next year as the upcoming season will also see two new teams take part in the cash-rich league.

Virat Kohli's post for MS Dhoni during IPL 14 adjudged most liked and retweeted tweet for sports in 2021

Ravi Shastri's tenure as Team India's head coach ended with the national side's exit from the 2021 T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Hence, Shastri's four-year-long tenure as head coach finally came to an end, which included several highs as well as some big jolts.

For the unversed, Shastri took over as the head coach in mid-2017 after Anil Kumble's unceremonious exit. Under him, India beat Australia twice in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, earned an unassailable 2-1 lead over England in the five Tests in the United Kingdom early this year, reached the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-finals and ended as runners-up in the inaugural WTC. In addition, India dominated oppositions at home, across formats, and enjoyed wholesome success in limited-overs bilateral series while being on the road.

Nonetheless, the former all-rounder-cum-renowned-commentator's contributions for Indian cricket continued even before he took over as head coach in 2017. In 2014, he was roped in as team director, amid then coach Duncan Fletcher's presence, and continued to perform the role till early 2016. Thus, he was touted to be the ideal candidate to succeed Fletcher (continuing in his role even after Fletcher's departure). However, BCCI went ahead with Kumble before the former Indian spinner's rift with Virat Kohli brought Shastri back into the scheme of things,&nbsp;as the head coach.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-was-given-2-days-to-resign-as-odi-captain-before-bcci-announced-rohit-as-his-successor-report-435370">Virat Kohli was given 2 days to resign as ODI captain before BCCI announced Rohit as his successor: Report</a>

Opining no the time he lost the head coach position in early 2016, Shastri told TOI in a recent interview, "There was this bolt from the blue. In less than two years after I was asked set aside my broadcast career, leave everything else and join the team, I suddenly found myself out for no reason. I had sown the seeds and the fruits were beginning to show and out of nowhere I came to know I was being replaced. Nobody told me why."

On being asked if the decision hurt him, the former cricketer didn't hold back and claimed,&nbsp;"Yes, more than anything, it hurt because of the manner in which it was done. For all that I had contributed, just on one word from the BCCI, there were better ways to let me know 'Oh look we don't want you, we don't like you. We want somebody else'&nbsp;- if that was the case. Anyway, I went back to do what I do best - which is television. Around nine months passed, and I didn't even have a clue that there was anything wrong inside the team. I mean, what could've been wrong? I was told there was a real problem and I said - how can there be a problem in nine months? The team that I had left was in such a good space. How the hell in nine months could something go that drastically wrong?"

Glaring remark by the ex-Indian head coach

He further asserted, "During my second stint, I came after a huge controversy. And it was literally egg on the faces of those who wanted me away. They opted for someone and nine months later, they came back to the very guy they threw out. And I'm not pointing any fingers at people (BCCI) in general. Specific people. I must say an attempt was made to ensure I don't get the job. But such is life."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-not-overawed-ravi-shastri-gives-his-take-on-captain-rohit-sharma-as-hitman-succeeds-virat-kohli-435518">'He is not overawed' - Ravi Shastri gives his take on Captain Rohit Sharma as Hitman succeeds Virat Kohli</a>

Thus, Shastri has pointed fingers at few people in the BCCI who didn't want him as the head coach initially in 2016. At present, he has been succeeded by Rahul Dravid whereas Team India have also gone through several changes post Shastri's exit.&nbsp;

Kohli has been replaced by Rohit Sharma as India's limited-overs captain. While the former continues to be in-charge of the Test side, Rohit has been promoted as his deputy in whites.

India are next scheduled to play three Tests and ODIs each versus South Africa, in the African nation, from December 26.

Ravi Shastri's tenure as Team India's head coach ended with the national side's exit from the 2021 T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Hence, Shastri's four-year-long tenure as head coach finally came to an end, which included several highs as well as some big jolts.

Ravi Shastri's tenure as Team India's head coach ended with the national side's exit from the 2021 T20 World Cup, in the UAE. Hence, Shastri's four-year-long tenure as head coach finally came to an end, which included several highs as well as some big jolts. For the unversed, Shastri took over as the head coach in mid-2017 after Anil Kumble's unceremonious exit. Under him, India beat Australia twice in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, earned an unassailable 2-1 lead over England in the five Tests in the United Kingdom early this year, reached the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-finals and ended as runners-up in the inaugural WTC. In addition, India dominated oppositions at home, across formats, and enjoyed wholesome success in limited-overs bilateral series while being on the road. Nonetheless, the former all-rounder-cum-renowned-commentator's contributions for Indian cricket continued even before he took over as head coach in 2017. In 2014, he was roped in as team director, amid then coach Duncan Fletcher's presence, and continued to perform the role till early 2016. Thus, he was touted to be the ideal candidate to succeed Fletcher (continuing in his role even after Fletcher's departure). However, BCCI went ahead with Kumble before the former Indian spinner's rift with Virat Kohli brought Shastri back into the scheme of things, as the head coach. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli was given 2 days to resign as ODI captain before BCCI announced Rohit as his successor: Report Opining no the time he lost the head coach position in early 2016, Shastri told TOI in a recent interview, "There was this bolt from the blue. In less than two years after I was asked set aside my broadcast career, leave everything else and join the team, I suddenly found myself out for no reason. I had sown the seeds and the fruits were beginning to show and out of nowhere I came to know I was being replaced. Nobody told me why." On being asked if the decision hurt him, the former cricketer didn't hold back and claimed, "Yes, more than anything, it hurt because of the manner in which it was done. For all that I had contributed, just on one word from the BCCI, there were better ways to let me know 'Oh look we don't want you, we don't like you. We want somebody else' - if that was the case. Anyway, I went back to do what I do best - which is television. Around nine months passed, and I didn't even have a clue that there was anything wrong inside the team. I mean, what could've been wrong? I was told there was a real problem and I said - how can there be a problem in nine months? The team that I had left was in such a good space. How the hell in nine months could something go that drastically wrong?" Glaring remark by the ex-Indian head coach He further asserted, "During my second stint, I came after a huge controversy. And it was literally egg on the faces of those who wanted me away. They opted for someone and nine months later, they came back to the very guy they threw out. And I'm not pointing any fingers at people (BCCI) in general. Specific people. I must say an attempt was made to ensure I don't get the job. But such is life." ALSO READ | 'He is not overawed' - Ravi Shastri gives his take on Captain Rohit Sharma as Hitman succeeds Virat Kohli Thus, Shastri has pointed fingers at few people in the BCCI who didn't want him as the head coach initially in 2016. At present, he has been succeeded by Rahul Dravid whereas Team India have also gone through several changes post Shastri's exit. Kohli has been replaced by Rohit Sharma as India's limited-overs captain. While the former continues to be in-charge of the Test side, Rohit has been promoted as his deputy in whites. India are next scheduled to play three Tests and ODIs each versus South Africa, in the African nation, from December 26.

'Some in BCCI made sure I don't get the job': Ex-India head coach Ravi Shastri makes glaring remark

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been the superstars of Indian cricket for quite sometime. Both of them were touted to be the next-big-thing when they were coming up the ranks in their early days.&nbsp;While Rohit debuted in early 2007 and was also part of the victorious MS Dhoni-led Men in Blue in the inaugural T20 World Cup, Kohli came into the scene in 2008. Since then, both have risen up the ladder through sheer consistency and talent. The duo are also part of the leadership group for long and continue to take Indian cricket forward.&nbsp;

However, not many know the first impression Rohit had created in Virat's mind during their early days.&nbsp;In a chat with Gaurav Kapur on his show&nbsp;'Breakfast with Champions',&nbsp;Kohli had recalled his first impression of Rohit the batsman. Back then, Kohli had confessed that he was curious to know why Rohit was hyped so much. However, after seeing him bat in the 2007 T20 WC, all of Kohli's questions were answered in a jiffy.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-had-the-character-game-and-personality-to-step-into-ms-dhonis-shoes-says-ravi-shastri-435772">Virat Kohli had the character, game and personality to step into MS Dhoni's shoes, says Ravi Shastri</a>

Kohli told host Gaurav, "Initially when Rohit was bursting onto the scene...we were all very curios because everyone was talking about his player Rohit Sharma. We were very curios because we were also young players but nobody was talking about us. Then during the T20 World Cup I saw him bat...and I just slumped on the sofa. That shut my mouth forever. When you saw him play you understood what people were talking about. What we are witnessing here, amazing. I haven't seen someone time the ball better than him."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/throwback-when-virat-kohli-had-seen-a-future-team-india-captain-in-rohit-sharma-435458">Throwback: When Virat Kohli had seen a future Team India captain in Rohit Sharma</a>

Virat and Rohit -- Two superstars of Indian cricket

Speaking of Kohli's achievements to date, he led India to the U-19 World Cup in 2008, was part of India's 2011 ODI WC triumph and 2013 Champions Trophy title win. He has over 22,000 international runs and 70 centuries under his belt. In addition, he has led India to the No. 1 spot in ICC Test rankings on numerous occasions and to the 2019 ODI WC semi-finals and WTC final.

Rohit, on the other hand, has close to 10,000 ODI runs, is the third-highest run-getter in T20Is (after second-positioned Kohli)&nbsp;and remains the Indian opener across formats. He was part of India's 2007 T20 WC success as well as the CT'2013 win.&nbsp;

Recently, Rohit took over from Kohli to become India's limited-overs captain whereas the latter continues to remain the Test captain.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been the superstars of Indian cricket for quite sometime. Both of them were touted to be the next-big-thing when they were coming up the ranks in their early days.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been the superstars of Indian cricket for quite sometime. Both of them were touted to be the next-big-thing when they were coming up the ranks in their early days. While Rohit debuted in early 2007 and was also part of the victorious MS Dhoni-led Men in Blue in the inaugural T20 World Cup, Kohli came into the scene in 2008. Since then, both have risen up the ladder through sheer consistency and talent. The duo are also part of the leadership group for long and continue to take Indian cricket forward. However, not many know the first impression Rohit had created in Virat's mind during their early days. In a chat with Gaurav Kapur on his show 'Breakfast with Champions', Kohli had recalled his first impression of Rohit the batsman. Back then, Kohli had confessed that he was curious to know why Rohit was hyped so much. However, after seeing him bat in the 2007 T20 WC, all of Kohli's questions were answered in a jiffy. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli had the character, game and personality to step into MS Dhoni's shoes, says Ravi Shastri Kohli told host Gaurav, "Initially when Rohit was bursting onto the scene...we were all very curios because everyone was talking about his player Rohit Sharma. We were very curios because we were also young players but nobody was talking about us. Then during the T20 World Cup I saw him bat...and I just slumped on the sofa. That shut my mouth forever. When you saw him play you understood what people were talking about. What we are witnessing here, amazing. I haven't seen someone time the ball better than him." ALSO READ | Throwback: When Virat Kohli had seen a future Team India captain in Rohit Sharma Virat and Rohit -- Two superstars of Indian cricket Speaking of Kohli's achievements to date, he led India to the U-19 World Cup in 2008, was part of India's 2011 ODI WC triumph and 2013 Champions Trophy title win. He has over 22,000 international runs and 70 centuries under his belt. In addition, he has led India to the No. 1 spot in ICC Test rankings on numerous occasions and to the 2019 ODI WC semi-finals and WTC final. Rohit, on the other hand, has close to 10,000 ODI runs, is the third-highest run-getter in T20Is (after second-positioned Kohli) and remains the Indian opener across formats. He was part of India's 2007 T20 WC success as well as the CT'2013 win. Recently, Rohit took over from Kohli to become India's limited-overs captain whereas the latter continues to remain the Test captain.

'Haven't seen someone....' - THROWBACK! When Virat Kohli shared his first impression of batsman Rohit Sharma

Indian cricket has seen rapid changes being made in the senior men's team following the T20 World Cup edition, in the UAE. Ravi Shastri's tenure as head coach ended as Rahul Dravid replaced him from the top post. While Virat Kohli had already announced his resignation as T20I captain post the World Cup, Rohit not only replaced him in the shortest format but BCCI also named Hitman as the ODI skipper on Wednesday (December 8). Hence, Team India is slowly and steadily settling into the Dravid-Rohit era.

Recently, former coach Ravi Shastri stated that he felt Kohli had the character, game and personality to step into MS Dhoni's shoes as the Indian captain. Shastri worked closely with Kohli after serving as Team India's director from 2014-16. In mid-2017, the former Indian all-rounder succeeded Anil Kumble to become the head coach and former a strong pair with Captain Kohli across formats till the 2021 T20 WC.

"Barring interviews on television (with players), I knew nobody (joining as team director in 2014) except probably MS Dhoni because I had worked with him in 2007. There was nobody from my generation, there was nobody from the immediate generation after me. For instance, I had a connect with players of the previous decade - Sachin, Rahul, Sourav, Anil. That generation was gone. So, once I came on board, my first challenge was to identify someone who could walk the talk and I found in Virat Kohli the guy with the character, game and personality to step into Dhoni's shoes," Shastri said in an interview with the&nbsp;Times of India.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/some-in-bcci-made-sure-i-dont-get-the-job-ex-india-head-coach-ravi-shastri-makes-glaring-remark-435719">'Some in BCCI made sure I don't get the job': Ex-India head coach Ravi Shastri makes glaring remark</a>

He further asserted, "Virat was reeling from that tour of England (where he amassed 134 runs in 5 Tests in England) because he hardly got runs. He was in a state of shock the way things had panned out. But you could see there was still enough there to get him going. Once he was back on his feet, there would be no looking back.

"I began watching him very closely. The more closely I saw him, I could see his sense of confidence returning back with each day. Those initial two-three months went in getting to know the team better. We began talking a lot, on various issues - batting techniques, the path forward, lot of things. And I think, it really came to the surface in Australia, when he finally bought into everything we discussed. He was absolutely ready to walk that talk - not just in the way he played his game but the way we wanted the team to play."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hes-still-a-leader-of-the-team-indias-newly-appointed-limited-overs-captain-rohit-sharma-opines-on-virat-kohli-435550">He's still a leader of the team: India's newly-appointed limited-overs captain Rohit Sharma opines on Virat Kohli</a>

Kohli-Shastri formed a deadly captain-coach pair for Team India. Under the duo, India won Test series in Australia (twice), earned an unassailable 2-1 lead in the England Tests in the United Kingdom early this year, won bilateral ODI series in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, won T20I series in SENA countries, played the semi-finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup and ended as the runners-up of the inaugural WTC. Nonetheless, they couldn't take India to an ICC title during their partnership.&nbsp;

Now, the onus is on Dravid-Rohit to take India to greater heights in limited-overs. However, Kohli remains the Test captain and will look to lead India to their first-ever series win on South African soil in the upcoming tour of the African nation, starting from December 26.

Indian cricket has seen rapid changes being made in the senior men's team following the T20 World Cup edition, in the UAE. Ravi Shastri's tenure as head coach ended as Rahul Dravid replaced him from the top post.

Indian cricket has seen rapid changes being made in the senior men's team following the T20 World Cup edition, in the UAE. Ravi Shastri's tenure as head coach ended as Rahul Dravid replaced him from the top post. While Virat Kohli had already announced his resignation as T20I captain post the World Cup, Rohit not only replaced him in the shortest format but BCCI also named Hitman as the ODI skipper on Wednesday (December 8). Hence, Team India is slowly and steadily settling into the Dravid-Rohit era. Recently, former coach Ravi Shastri stated that he felt Kohli had the character, game and personality to step into MS Dhoni's shoes as the Indian captain. Shastri worked closely with Kohli after serving as Team India's director from 2014-16. In mid-2017, the former Indian all-rounder succeeded Anil Kumble to become the head coach and former a strong pair with Captain Kohli across formats till the 2021 T20 WC. "Barring interviews on television (with players), I knew nobody (joining as team director in 2014) except probably MS Dhoni because I had worked with him in 2007. There was nobody from my generation, there was nobody from the immediate generation after me. For instance, I had a connect with players of the previous decade - Sachin, Rahul, Sourav, Anil. That generation was gone. So, once I came on board, my first challenge was to identify someone who could walk the talk and I found in Virat Kohli the guy with the character, game and personality to step into Dhoni's shoes," Shastri said in an interview with the Times of India. ALSO READ | 'Some in BCCI made sure I don't get the job': Ex-India head coach Ravi Shastri makes glaring remark He further asserted, "Virat was reeling from that tour of England (where he amassed 134 runs in 5 Tests in England) because he hardly got runs. He was in a state of shock the way things had panned out. But you could see there was still enough there to get him going. Once he was back on his feet, there would be no looking back. "I began watching him very closely. The more closely I saw him, I could see his sense of confidence returning back with each day. Those initial two-three months went in getting to know the team better. We began talking a lot, on various issues - batting techniques, the path forward, lot of things. And I think, it really came to the surface in Australia, when he finally bought into everything we discussed. He was absolutely ready to walk that talk - not just in the way he played his game but the way we wanted the team to play." ALSO READ | He's still a leader of the team: India's newly-appointed limited-overs captain Rohit Sharma opines on Virat Kohli Kohli-Shastri formed a deadly captain-coach pair for Team India. Under the duo, India won Test series in Australia (twice), earned an unassailable 2-1 lead in the England Tests in the United Kingdom early this year, won bilateral ODI series in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, won T20I series in SENA countries, played the semi-finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup and ended as the runners-up of the inaugural WTC. Nonetheless, they couldn't take India to an ICC title during their partnership. Now, the onus is on Dravid-Rohit to take India to greater heights in limited-overs. However, Kohli remains the Test captain and will look to lead India to their first-ever series win on South African soil in the upcoming tour of the African nation, starting from December 26.

Virat Kohli had the character, game and personality to step into MS Dhoni's shoes, says Ravi Shastri

BCCI, on Wednesday (December 8), announced Rohit Sharma as the new Indian ODI captain, replacing Virat Kohli. Hitman was being considered for the post as soon as he succeeded Kohli as the T20I captain post the World Cup in the&nbsp;UAE.

Prior to the T20 WC, Kohli had announced that he would step aside as the captain in the shortest format but continue to lead in Tests and ODIs. However, BCCI named Rohit as the only white-ball captain going forward whereas Kohli will continue to call the shots in Tests.

Not many know that during an event in 2013, Kohli had stated that he sees a future Team India captain in Rohit.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-was-given-2-days-to-resign-as-odi-captain-before-bcci-announced-rohit-as-his-successor-report-435370">Virat Kohli was given 2 days to resign as ODI captain before BCCI announced Rohit as his successor: Report</a>

Back then, Kohli had stated, "Rohit has a tremendous cricketing brain. I often take his advice during matches. He has shown his capability while leading Mumbai Indians in the IPL." The right-hander had shared his views when asked about who can lead the team apart from him and MS Dhoni, who was the Indian captain at that time.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-will-be-rohit-sharmas-deputy-in-odis-kl-rahul-rishabh-pant-in-contention-report-435381">Who will be Rohit Sharma's deputy in ODIs? KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant in contention: Report</a>

It is to be noted that Rohit became a part of India's leadership group in 2017, when he was named Kohli's deputy in the shorter formats. Now being appointed as India's limited-overs captain, the onus is on Rohit to take the team forward and lead them to ICC titles (which has been missing in India's cabinet since 2013).

Talking about Kohli's run as ODI and T20I captain, India won bilateral T20Is in SENA countries and played the final and semi-finals of the 2017 Champions Trophy and 2019 ODI WC, respectively, but couldn't end their ICC-title drought.

BCCI, on Wednesday (December 8), announced Rohit Sharma as the new Indian ODI captain, replacing Virat Kohli. Hitman was being considered for the post as soon as he succeeded Kohli as the T20I captain post the World Cup in the UAE.

BCCI, on Wednesday (December 8), announced Rohit Sharma as the new Indian ODI captain, replacing Virat Kohli. Hitman was being considered for the post as soon as he succeeded Kohli as the T20I captain post the World Cup in the UAE. Prior to the T20 WC, Kohli had announced that he would step aside as the captain in the shortest format but continue to lead in Tests and ODIs. However, BCCI named Rohit as the only white-ball captain going forward whereas Kohli will continue to call the shots in Tests. Not many know that during an event in 2013, Kohli had stated that he sees a future Team India captain in Rohit. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli was given 2 days to resign as ODI captain before BCCI announced Rohit as his successor: Report Back then, Kohli had stated, "Rohit has a tremendous cricketing brain. I often take his advice during matches. He has shown his capability while leading Mumbai Indians in the IPL." The right-hander had shared his views when asked about who can lead the team apart from him and MS Dhoni, who was the Indian captain at that time. ALSO READ | Who will be Rohit Sharma's deputy in ODIs? KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant in contention: Report It is to be noted that Rohit became a part of India's leadership group in 2017, when he was named Kohli's deputy in the shorter formats. Now being appointed as India's limited-overs captain, the onus is on Rohit to take the team forward and lead them to ICC titles (which has been missing in India's cabinet since 2013). Talking about Kohli's run as ODI and T20I captain, India won bilateral T20Is in SENA countries and played the final and semi-finals of the 2017 Champions Trophy and 2019 ODI WC, respectively, but couldn't end their ICC-title drought.

Throwback: When Virat Kohli had seen a future Team India captain in Rohit Sharma

Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has lauded MS Dhoni for single-handedly building Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the culture at the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise. Bravo was part of CSK's IPL title-winning campaign in the 2021 season as Dhoni &amp; Co. once again shut the critics in style with their stellar campaign despite being written off by many at the start of the season.

Bravo, who has been released by CSK ahead of the upcoming IPL mega auction, is proud to have represented the franchise and played a part in its success over the years. CSK staged an incredible comeback in IPL 2021 after missing out on the playoffs for the first time in 2020. They became the first team to qualify for the top four and went on to lift their fourth IPL trophy in what was a memorable campaign for the team.

Bravo said it was a special season for CSK as the players were determined to prove their critics wrong after being called 'granddads' and 'Dad's army' in the IPL. The Dhoni-led side defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in the final in UAE to win the elusive trophy.

“It was a special season because the season before, we came seventh and it was the first time CSK did not qualify (for playoffs) in the history of IPL. So, all of us as players were determined to come back and prove ourselves and the fans that we are much better than that last season,” Bravo was quoted as saying by Telangana Today.

“So, even last season, no one gave us a chance because they called us the granddad of the IPL but we proved all the doubters wrong and created history again. I am very happy to be a part of the legacy of Chennai Super Kings, one of the most successful IPL franchise ever,” he added.

Crediting Dhoni for CSK's success over the years, Bravo, who enjoys a great rapport with the CSK skipper, hailed him as one of the best to have played the game. While Dhoni himself has struggled with the willow in the last two seasons in IPL, he proved why he remains one of the best captains in the league despite his growing age.

“It’s no secret that he is one of the best players to have ever played the game. He single-handedly built Chennai Super Kings and the culture. All of us as players are very proud and happy to have played under him and his leadership guidance. When it comes to off the field stuff, he doesn’t get involved much,” Bravo said lauding Dhoni.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suresh-raina-to-chris-gayle-five-ipl-veterans-who-might-go-unsold-at-the-upcoming-mega-auction-434904">Suresh Raina to Chris Gayle: Five IPL veterans who might go unsold at the upcoming mega auction</a>

Chennai Super Kings have retained captain Dhoni ahead of the mega auction and the 40-year-old is all set to lead the team once again next season. He has been retained as the second-choice player for Rs 12 crore (INR 120 million) while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been retained as the first-choice player for Rs 16 crore (INR 160 crore).&nbsp;

It remains to be seen if CSK will go for Bravo in the upcoming auction and bring him back to the franchise ahead of the new season.

Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has lauded MS Dhoni for single-handedly building Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the culture at the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise.

Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has lauded MS Dhoni for single-handedly building Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the culture at the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise. Bravo was part of CSK's IPL title-winning campaign in the 2021 season as Dhoni & Co. once again shut the critics in style with their stellar campaign despite being written off by many at the start of the season. Bravo, who has been released by CSK ahead of the upcoming IPL mega auction, is proud to have represented the franchise and played a part in its success over the years. CSK staged an incredible comeback in IPL 2021 after missing out on the playoffs for the first time in 2020. They became the first team to qualify for the top four and went on to lift their fourth IPL trophy in what was a memorable campaign for the team. Bravo said it was a special season for CSK as the players were determined to prove their critics wrong after being called 'granddads' and 'Dad's army' in the IPL. The Dhoni-led side defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in the final in UAE to win the elusive trophy. “It was a special season because the season before, we came seventh and it was the first time CSK did not qualify (for playoffs) in the history of IPL. So, all of us as players were determined to come back and prove ourselves and the fans that we are much better than that last season,” Bravo was quoted as saying by Telangana Today. “So, even last season, no one gave us a chance because they called us the granddad of the IPL but we proved all the doubters wrong and created history again. I am very happy to be a part of the legacy of Chennai Super Kings, one of the most successful IPL franchise ever,” he added. Crediting Dhoni for CSK's success over the years, Bravo, who enjoys a great rapport with the CSK skipper, hailed him as one of the best to have played the game. While Dhoni himself has struggled with the willow in the last two seasons in IPL, he proved why he remains one of the best captains in the league despite his growing age. “It’s no secret that he is one of the best players to have ever played the game. He single-handedly built Chennai Super Kings and the culture. All of us as players are very proud and happy to have played under him and his leadership guidance. When it comes to off the field stuff, he doesn’t get involved much,” Bravo said lauding Dhoni. Also Read: Suresh Raina to Chris Gayle: Five IPL veterans who might go unsold at the upcoming mega auction Chennai Super Kings have retained captain Dhoni ahead of the mega auction and the 40-year-old is all set to lead the team once again next season. He has been retained as the second-choice player for Rs 12 crore (INR 120 million) while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been retained as the first-choice player for Rs 16 crore (INR 160 crore). It remains to be seen if CSK will go for Bravo in the upcoming auction and bring him back to the franchise ahead of the new season.

MS Dhoni one of the best to have played the game, he single-handedly built CSK: Dwayne Bravo

MS Dhoni remains a big name in international cricket. The wicketkeeper-batsman made his international debut in late 2004 and soon became a household name for his hairstyle, power-hitting and leading India to the inaugural T20 World Cup title in 2007.&nbsp;

From thereon, there was no stopping Dhoni. The former Indian cricketer led the national side to all three major ICC titles, amassed over 17,000 runs across formats, accounted for 634 catches, 195 stumping and still remains India's second-highest six-hitter overall. While the 40-year-old was always in the middle of the action in the 22-yard cricket strip, and remains the same while representing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL, he has always shied away from social media platforms.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harbhajan-singh-likely-to-announce-retirement-set-to-join-support-staff-of-high-profile-ipl-team-report-434854">Harbhajan Singh likely to announce retirement, set to join support staff of high-profile IPL team - Report</a>

However, Dhoni was fairly more active on social media platform Twitter in 2012. Back then, Dhoni had posted something on the micro-blogging site when a user asked him to focus on the game. To this, the keeper-batsman gave a cheeky response and won the internet. Here's what he wrote:

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<a href="https://twitter.com/urssrilu666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@urssrilu666</a> sir yes sir, any tips sir
— Mahendra Singh Dhoni (@msdhoni) <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni/status/225144124242788352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2012</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/2011-world-cup-heroes-reunite-ms-dhoni-and-yuvraj-singhs-meet-up-makes-cricket-fans-nostalgic-watch-434814">2011 World Cup heroes reunite: MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh's meet-up makes cricket fans nostalgic - WATCH</a>

At present, Dhoni is hardly active on Twitter. He, at times, shares some posts on Instagram but is mostly inactive.

The 40-year-old was recently retained by CSK ahead of the mega auction for IPL 2022. Leading the franchise to their fourth title in IPL 2021, Dhoni will now gear up to replicate the same feat in next year's edition, which will also feature two new teams in Lucknow and Ahmedabad.

Dhoni, an IPL legend, is the eighth-highest run-getter in the tournament history (4,746) and has most dismissals by a keeper (161).

MS Dhoni remains a big name in international cricket. The wicketkeeper-batsman made his international debut in late 2004 and soon became a household name for his hairstyle, power-hitting and leading India to the inaugural T20 World Cup title in 2007.

MS Dhoni remains a big name in international cricket. The wicketkeeper-batsman made his international debut in late 2004 and soon became a household name for his hairstyle, power-hitting and leading India to the inaugural T20 World Cup title in 2007. From thereon, there was no stopping Dhoni. The former Indian cricketer led the national side to all three major ICC titles, amassed over 17,000 runs across formats, accounted for 634 catches, 195 stumping and still remains India's second-highest six-hitter overall. While the 40-year-old was always in the middle of the action in the 22-yard cricket strip, and remains the same while representing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL, he has always shied away from social media platforms. ALSO READ | Harbhajan Singh likely to announce retirement, set to join support staff of high-profile IPL team - Report However, Dhoni was fairly more active on social media platform Twitter in 2012. Back then, Dhoni had posted something on the micro-blogging site when a user asked him to focus on the game. To this, the keeper-batsman gave a cheeky response and won the internet. Here's what he wrote: @urssrilu666 sir yes sir, any tips sir — Mahendra Singh Dhoni (@msdhoni) July 17, 2012 × ALSO READ | 2011 World Cup heroes reunite: MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh's meet-up makes cricket fans nostalgic - WATCH At present, Dhoni is hardly active on Twitter. He, at times, shares some posts on Instagram but is mostly inactive. The 40-year-old was recently retained by CSK ahead of the mega auction for IPL 2022. Leading the franchise to their fourth title in IPL 2021, Dhoni will now gear up to replicate the same feat in next year's edition, which will also feature two new teams in Lucknow and Ahmedabad. Dhoni, an IPL legend, is the eighth-highest run-getter in the tournament history (4,746) and has most dismissals by a keeper (161).

THROWBACK: 'Any tips sir' - When MS Dhoni's cheeky reply to his critic won the internet

Former India captain MS Dhoni recently caught up with his old mate Yuvraj Singh sending cricket fans into a frenzy on social media. Dhoni and Yuvraj spent a number of years together in the Indian dressing room and were the vital cogs in the team's middle-order. The duo played an instrumental role in helping India attain several memorable wins across formats.

Dhoni and Yuvraj are regarded as two of the best finishers of the current generation and were the heroes of India's famous&nbsp; 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup triumphs. Yuvraj was the Man of the Tournament as his all-round heroics saw India bring an end to their 28-year-long wait for an ODI World Cup title in 2011 under Dhoni's captaincy.

As the legendary duo met for a shoot recently, Yuvraj shared a small clip of their meeting on his Instagram story and tagged Dhoni in it. The clip soon went viral on social media with fans getting nostalgic over the reunion of old mates.

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Yuvraj Singh's latest Instagram story:<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yuvi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yuvi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MSD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MSD</a> <a href="https://t.co/FdCWaR2tkF">pic.twitter.com/FdCWaR2tkF</a>
— StumpMic Cricket (@stumpmic_) <a href="https://twitter.com/stumpmic_/status/1467913119154556935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Meet up of Dhoni &amp; Yuvraj after a Long time... <a href="https://t.co/E1ByExs447">pic.twitter.com/E1ByExs447</a>
— CricketWithLove (@cricket_widlove) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricket_widlove/status/1467887547468632069?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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While Yuvraj had announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2019, Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020. However, the former India captain continues to ply his trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he leads the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and has been retained by the four-time champions once again ahead of the 2022 season.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/still-remember-you-smashing-me-ajaz-patel-tells-sehwag-after-perfect-ten-former-india-opener-responds-434652">'Still remember you smashing me': Ajaz Patel tells Sehwag after perfect ten, former India opener responds</a>

Dhoni-led CSK to their fourth IPL crown in IPL 2021 as the Yellow Army staged a remarkable comeback after missing out on the playoffs last season. CSK defeated Kolkata Knight Riders comprehensively in the final in Dubai to lift the elusive trophy for the fourth time as Dhoni yet again proved why he is regarded as one of the greatest captains of all time.

Dhoni has led CSK to a staggering nine finals and four titles in just twelve seasons while missing out on the top four only once. CSK have retained all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the IPL mega auction and will be looking to build a strong team once again this time around.

&nbsp;

Former India captain MS Dhoni recently caught up with his old mate Yuvraj Singh sending cricket fans into a frenzy on social media. Dhoni and Yuvraj spent a number of years together in the Indian dressing room and were the vital cogs in the team's middle-order.

Former India captain MS Dhoni recently caught up with his old mate Yuvraj Singh sending cricket fans into a frenzy on social media. Dhoni and Yuvraj spent a number of years together in the Indian dressing room and were the vital cogs in the team's middle-order. The duo played an instrumental role in helping India attain several memorable wins across formats. Dhoni and Yuvraj are regarded as two of the best finishers of the current generation and were the heroes of India's famous 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup triumphs. Yuvraj was the Man of the Tournament as his all-round heroics saw India bring an end to their 28-year-long wait for an ODI World Cup title in 2011 under Dhoni's captaincy. As the legendary duo met for a shoot recently, Yuvraj shared a small clip of their meeting on his Instagram story and tagged Dhoni in it. The clip soon went viral on social media with fans getting nostalgic over the reunion of old mates. Yuvraj Singh's latest Instagram story:#Yuvi #MSD pic.twitter.com/FdCWaR2tkF — StumpMic Cricket (@stumpmic_) December 6, 2021 × Meet up of Dhoni & Yuvraj after a Long time... pic.twitter.com/E1ByExs447 — CricketWithLove (@cricket_widlove) December 6, 2021 × While Yuvraj had announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2019, Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020. However, the former India captain continues to ply his trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he leads the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and has been retained by the four-time champions once again ahead of the 2022 season. Also Read: 'Still remember you smashing me': Ajaz Patel tells Sehwag after perfect ten, former India opener responds Dhoni-led CSK to their fourth IPL crown in IPL 2021 as the Yellow Army staged a remarkable comeback after missing out on the playoffs last season. CSK defeated Kolkata Knight Riders comprehensively in the final in Dubai to lift the elusive trophy for the fourth time as Dhoni yet again proved why he is regarded as one of the greatest captains of all time. Dhoni has led CSK to a staggering nine finals and four titles in just twelve seasons while missing out on the top four only once. CSK have retained all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the IPL mega auction and will be looking to build a strong team once again this time around.

2011 World Cup heroes reunite: MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh's meet-up makes cricket fans nostalgic - WATCH

Virat Kohli-led Team India locked horns with New Zealand in the second and final Test on Friday (December 3) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Winning the toss, Kohli &amp; Co. opted to bat first and were off to a great start. From 80 for no loss, India slipped to 80 for 2 with Shubman Gill (44) and Cheteshwar Pujara (0) returning back to the pavillion in no time.&nbsp;

Kohli, who returned to action for the first time since the T20 World Cup, walked out to bat with the team in crisis. However, he failed to open his account and was controversially deemed out lbw, off Ajaz Patel, to walk back for a 4-ball 0. Following his dismissal, the 33-year-old achieved two unwanted records under his belt.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-rahul-iyer-or-warner-aakash-chopra-suggests-virat-kohlis-successor-at-rcb-ahead-of-ipl-2022-433845">Not Rahul, Iyer or Warner! Aakash Chopra suggests Virat Kohli's successor at RCB ahead of IPL 2022</a>

With another duck in Tests, Kohli now is the only Indian captain to have failed to open his account on ten occasions. During the England tour early this year, the right-hander had leapfrogged his predecessor MS Dhoni (8) to have nine ducks as Indian captain in the purest format. With this, he is joint-second -- along with former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith -- in the overall list of most ducks by Test captains whereas NZ's Stephen Fleming leads the chart (13). Dhoni, Michael Artheron and Hansie Cronje are tied at the third position with 8 ducks each.

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In addition, Kohli now has registered 6 ducks (the most) while playing at home as Indian captain. He shared the top spot with MK Pataudi prior to the Mumbai Test and now has gone onto take the numero uno position in the unwanted list.

Talking about the opening day's play of the Mumbai Test, India rode on Mayank Agarwal's fourth ton (120 not out) and valuable knocks from Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Wriddhiman Saha (unbeaten on 25) to reach 221-4 at stumps on Friday. From NZ's perspective, Ajaz Patel claimed all four wickets.

Virat Kohli-led Team India locked horns with New Zealand in the second and final Test on Friday (December 3) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Winning the toss, Kohli & Co.

Virat Kohli-led Team India locked horns with New Zealand in the second and final Test on Friday (December 3) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Winning the toss, Kohli & Co. opted to bat first and were off to a great start. From 80 for no loss, India slipped to 80 for 2 with Shubman Gill (44) and Cheteshwar Pujara (0) returning back to the pavillion in no time. Kohli, who returned to action for the first time since the T20 World Cup, walked out to bat with the team in crisis. However, he failed to open his account and was controversially deemed out lbw, off Ajaz Patel, to walk back for a 4-ball 0. Following his dismissal, the 33-year-old achieved two unwanted records under his belt. ALSO READ | Not Rahul, Iyer or Warner! Aakash Chopra suggests Virat Kohli's successor at RCB ahead of IPL 2022 With another duck in Tests, Kohli now is the only Indian captain to have failed to open his account on ten occasions. During the England tour early this year, the right-hander had leapfrogged his predecessor MS Dhoni (8) to have nine ducks as Indian captain in the purest format. With this, he is joint-second -- along with former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith -- in the overall list of most ducks by Test captains whereas NZ's Stephen Fleming leads the chart (13). Dhoni, Michael Artheron and Hansie Cronje are tied at the third position with 8 ducks each. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli said nothing about it: Laxman surprised with Rahane, Jadeja and Ishant's injuries for 2nd Test In addition, Kohli now has registered 6 ducks (the most) while playing at home as Indian captain. He shared the top spot with MK Pataudi prior to the Mumbai Test and now has gone onto take the numero uno position in the unwanted list. Talking about the opening day's play of the Mumbai Test, India rode on Mayank Agarwal's fourth ton (120 not out) and valuable knocks from Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Wriddhiman Saha (unbeaten on 25) to reach 221-4 at stumps on Friday. From NZ's perspective, Ajaz Patel claimed all four wickets.

Virat Kohli achieves two unwanted records after failing to open his account on Day 1 of Mumbai Test

While MS Dhoni has gone past his prime, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend remains a big name in IPL. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman has amassed 4,746 runs in 220 IPL games, eighth-most overall, and also accounts for most dismissals (161) behind the stumps.

Apart from Dhoni's batting and keeping, his finishing skills and captaincy have been hailed by many in the IPL (and also during his stint with Indian cricket). Thus, it wasn't any surprise when the four-time winners retained the 40-year-old Dhoni ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. For the unversed, Dhoni wasn't CSK's first-choice but was retained for a whopping 120 million (12 crores).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-suresh-raina-csk-ceo-names-ex-player-ms-dhoni-co-will-try-to-get-back-in-ipl-2022-mega-auction-433581">Not Suresh Raina! CSK CEO names ex-player MS Dhoni &amp; Co. will try to 'get back' in IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

Opining on Dhoni's retention and what he brings to the table overall, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan hailed the 'Thala' and told in a video posted by the franchise on social media, "Thala has been the mainstay of CSK. He has been a captain who has delivered for us. He gets the best out of the team every time he plays. As far as we are concerned, Thala plays a major role because he controls the team, and the team is benefitted by his experience. Nobody can doubt his skills as a captain."

He added, "Chennai has been a very lucky ground for us, we had a good home advantage. That is because of the support we get from the CSK fans who throng to the stadium. I hope that this year, we get the entire MA Chidambaram Stadium for our use,”&nbsp;he stated.

The next edition of the IPL is slated to be held in India. Meanwhile, the mega auction is likely in early 2022.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-rcb-co-are-you-listening-jamacian-sprinter-usain-bolt-eyeing-cricket-career-keen-to-play-in-ipl-433511">CSK, RCB &amp; Co. are you listening? Jamacian sprinter Usain Bolt eyeing cricket career, keen to play in IPL</a>

Despite his low returns with the bat, Dhoni remained a vital cog for CSK in IPL 2021 edition. He led the franchise brilliantly and took them to their ninth IPL final in the last edition. In the summit clash, Dhoni-led CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 27 runs to clinch the coveted title after three years.

While MS Dhoni has gone past his prime, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend remains a big name in IPL. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman has amassed 4,746 runs in 220 IPL games, eighth-most overall, and also accounts for most dismissals (161) behind the stumps.

While MS Dhoni has gone past his prime, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend remains a big name in IPL. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman has amassed 4,746 runs in 220 IPL games, eighth-most overall, and also accounts for most dismissals (161) behind the stumps. Apart from Dhoni's batting and keeping, his finishing skills and captaincy have been hailed by many in the IPL (and also during his stint with Indian cricket). Thus, it wasn't any surprise when the four-time winners retained the 40-year-old Dhoni ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. For the unversed, Dhoni wasn't CSK's first-choice but was retained for a whopping 120 million (12 crores). ALSO READ | Not Suresh Raina! CSK CEO names ex-player MS Dhoni & Co. will try to 'get back' in IPL 2022 mega auction Opining on Dhoni's retention and what he brings to the table overall, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan hailed the 'Thala' and told in a video posted by the franchise on social media, "Thala has been the mainstay of CSK. He has been a captain who has delivered for us. He gets the best out of the team every time he plays. As far as we are concerned, Thala plays a major role because he controls the team, and the team is benefitted by his experience. Nobody can doubt his skills as a captain." He added, "Chennai has been a very lucky ground for us, we had a good home advantage. That is because of the support we get from the CSK fans who throng to the stadium. I hope that this year, we get the entire MA Chidambaram Stadium for our use,” he stated. The next edition of the IPL is slated to be held in India. Meanwhile, the mega auction is likely in early 2022. ALSO READ | CSK, RCB & Co. are you listening? Jamacian sprinter Usain Bolt eyeing cricket career, keen to play in IPL Despite his low returns with the bat, Dhoni remained a vital cog for CSK in IPL 2021 edition. He led the franchise brilliantly and took them to their ninth IPL final in the last edition. In the summit clash, Dhoni-led CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 27 runs to clinch the coveted title after three years.

MS Dhoni gets the best out of CSK, nobody can doubt his skills as captain: Yellow Army's CEO K Viswanathan

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have retained captain MS Dhoni, star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction. While many expected Dhoni to be CSK's first-choice retention, the franchise announced that Jadeja has been kept as the first-choice player for Rs 6 crore (INR 160 million) while Dhoni will be taking a salary of Rs 12 crore (INR 120 million).

Dhoni was CSK's highest-paid player from IPL 2018 to 2021 as he was on a contract of Rs 15 crore (INR 150 million) per year. However, Dhoni has taken a pay cut this time around to continue his association with CSK in what are the final few years of his cricketing career. Having already crossed the age of 40, Dhoni is not expected to continue playing for the next full three seasons for CSK.

Robin Uthappa, who was part of CSK's IPL-winning team in 2021, has hinted at who can be Dhoni's successor at CSK once he decides to hang up his boots. While explaining why CSK have made Jadeja their highest-apid player and not Dhoni this time around, Uthappa said it must have been Dhoni's choice and that they have given the Team India all-rounder the due he deserved.

Uthappa also suggested that Jadeja is one of the favourites to take over the captaincy from Dhoni after his retirement from IPL. “I am sure that is MS Dhoni’s doing itself. He knows the value that Jadeja has to the unit. I think from what I understand, Jadeja might be someone who could end up leading the squad in the future as well when MS Dhoni retires. They have given him the due he deserved," Uthappa said on Star Sports.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-suresh-raina-csk-ceo-names-ex-player-ms-dhoni-co-will-try-to-get-back-in-ipl-2022-mega-auction-433581">Not&nbsp;Raina! CSK CEO names ex-player MS Dhoni &amp; Co. will try to 'get back' in IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

CSK can also look for a young captaincy prospect in the upcoming mega auction and groom him as a leader while Dhoni is still there with the franchise. Jadeja is one of the most experienced campaigners in the CSK setup and has been with the franchise for nine seasons now.

He is one of the best all-rounders in the league with 2386 runs and 127 wickets in 200 IPL matches. Jadeja is also a regular across formats for Team India and can soon be leading CSK in the IPL if the franchise put the trust in him for a leadership role.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have retained captain MS Dhoni, star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have retained captain MS Dhoni, star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction. While many expected Dhoni to be CSK's first-choice retention, the franchise announced that Jadeja has been kept as the first-choice player for Rs 6 crore (INR 160 million) while Dhoni will be taking a salary of Rs 12 crore (INR 120 million). Dhoni was CSK's highest-paid player from IPL 2018 to 2021 as he was on a contract of Rs 15 crore (INR 150 million) per year. However, Dhoni has taken a pay cut this time around to continue his association with CSK in what are the final few years of his cricketing career. Having already crossed the age of 40, Dhoni is not expected to continue playing for the next full three seasons for CSK. Robin Uthappa, who was part of CSK's IPL-winning team in 2021, has hinted at who can be Dhoni's successor at CSK once he decides to hang up his boots. While explaining why CSK have made Jadeja their highest-apid player and not Dhoni this time around, Uthappa said it must have been Dhoni's choice and that they have given the Team India all-rounder the due he deserved. Uthappa also suggested that Jadeja is one of the favourites to take over the captaincy from Dhoni after his retirement from IPL. “I am sure that is MS Dhoni’s doing itself. He knows the value that Jadeja has to the unit. I think from what I understand, Jadeja might be someone who could end up leading the squad in the future as well when MS Dhoni retires. They have given him the due he deserved," Uthappa said on Star Sports. Also Read: Not Raina! CSK CEO names ex-player MS Dhoni & Co. will try to 'get back' in IPL 2022 mega auction CSK can also look for a young captaincy prospect in the upcoming mega auction and groom him as a leader while Dhoni is still there with the franchise. Jadeja is one of the most experienced campaigners in the CSK setup and has been with the franchise for nine seasons now. He is one of the best all-rounders in the league with 2386 runs and 127 wickets in 200 IPL matches. Jadeja is also a regular across formats for Team India and can soon be leading CSK in the IPL if the franchise put the trust in him for a leadership role.

Robin Uthappa hints at MS Dhoni's successor as CSK captain: 'They have given him the due he deserved'

The list of retained players were revealed by the eight existing IPL franchises on Tuesday evening (November 30). The four-time winners and defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) retained the likes of skipper MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and opener Ruturaj Gaikwad.&nbsp;

Thus, CSK let go off many players such as Mr. IPL Suresh Raina, also fondly called the&nbsp;Chinna Thala (right hand of the leader)&nbsp;by the local fans, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, etc. The Yellow Army will look to rebuild and form a new core of players in the squad, however, the CSK CEO has revealed that the franchise will look to try and get back opener Faf du Plessis.

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In a video posted by CSK franchise, K Viswanathan said, "We look forward to getting them back. For example, Faf has been a team man who has taken us to the finals of two important seasons. It will be our endeavor to go and try for him. But it's not in our hands." He added, "We wish them all the very best wherever they are. We look forward to having a very good 2022."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2022-which-side-be-the-richest-revealing-purse-of-8-existing-teams-before-mega-auction-433317">IPL 2022: Which side be the richest? Revealing purse of 8 existing teams before mega auction</a>

While Raina has been CSK's leading run-getter in IPL (5,529), the swashbuckling left-hander's stocks had gone down since the franchise's readmission. Moreover, Faf (CSK's third-highest run-getter with 2,932 runs) formed a daunting opening pair with Ruturaj in IPL 2021 and has been one of their star performers with the bat in the last two editions.

For the unversed, the Dhoni-led CSK franchise will head into the next year's mega auction with a total of 480 million in their purse. The mega auction is likely to be held in early January. The next edition will see two more teams taking part in the cash-rich league, in the form of Lucknow and Ahmedabad.

The list of retained players were revealed by the eight existing IPL franchises on Tuesday evening (November 30). The four-time winners and defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) retained the likes of skipper MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and opener Ruturaj Gaikwad.

The list of retained players were revealed by the eight existing IPL franchises on Tuesday evening (November 30). The four-time winners and defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) retained the likes of skipper MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and opener Ruturaj Gaikwad. Thus, CSK let go off many players such as Mr. IPL Suresh Raina, also fondly called the Chinna Thala (right hand of the leader) by the local fans, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, etc. The Yellow Army will look to rebuild and form a new core of players in the squad, however, the CSK CEO has revealed that the franchise will look to try and get back opener Faf du Plessis. ALSO READ | CSK, RCB & Co. are you listening? Jamacian sprinter Usain Bolt eyeing cricket career, keen to play in IPL In a video posted by CSK franchise, K Viswanathan said, "We look forward to getting them back. For example, Faf has been a team man who has taken us to the finals of two important seasons. It will be our endeavor to go and try for him. But it's not in our hands." He added, "We wish them all the very best wherever they are. We look forward to having a very good 2022." ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Which side be the richest? Revealing purse of 8 existing teams before mega auction While Raina has been CSK's leading run-getter in IPL (5,529), the swashbuckling left-hander's stocks had gone down since the franchise's readmission. Moreover, Faf (CSK's third-highest run-getter with 2,932 runs) formed a daunting opening pair with Ruturaj in IPL 2021 and has been one of their star performers with the bat in the last two editions. For the unversed, the Dhoni-led CSK franchise will head into the next year's mega auction with a total of 480 million in their purse. The mega auction is likely to be held in early January. The next edition will see two more teams taking part in the cash-rich league, in the form of Lucknow and Ahmedabad.

Not Suresh Raina! CSK CEO names ex-player MS Dhoni & Co. will try to 'get back' in IPL 2022 mega auction

IPL 2022: Which side be the richest? Revealing purse of 8 existing teams before mega auction

The IPL retention list was released on Tuesday evening (November 30). The eight existing IPL franchises released their set of retained players as many established names found themselves being retained, by their respective teams, whereas some big names have been released and will proceed to the mega auction, to be held in early 2022. (The two new teams will also get a chance to pick three players each prior to the auction).

While MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli and undoubtedly two of the biggest names in IPL, the superstar duo took paycuts in order to boost Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) purse, respectively, and help rebuild in the mega auction. For the unversed, Dhoni agreed to be the second-retention choice for CSK, for 12 crores (120 million), whereas all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was retained as the Yellow Army's top-choice player, for 16 crores (160 million).

On the other hand, Kohli remained the top-choice for RCB in their retention list, however, he chose to have a pay cut of 2 crores (being retained for 15 crores, i.e. 150 million) before the mega auction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-retention-whos-in-whos-out-ahead-of-mega-auction-all-you-need-to-know-433141">IPL retention: Who's in, who's out ahead of mega auction? All you need to know</a>

Both Dhoni and Kohli have been IPL legends. While the CSK skipper has led the Men in Yellow to four IPL titles, he has amassed 4,746 runs in 220 matches along with being the wicketkeeper with most dismissals overall (161). On the other hand, the 33-year-old Kohli has led RCB to the 2016 IPL final and is the leading run-getter in the tournament-history, with 6,283 runs in 207 games.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chennai-super-kings-complete-retention-list-csk-retain-ms-dhoni-ravindra-jadeja-and-two-others-433058">Chennai Super Kings complete retention list: CSK retain MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja and two others</a>

Here's the list of retained players:

CSK:&nbsp;Jadeja (16 cr), Dhoni (12 cr), Moeen Ali (8 cr), Ruturaj Gaikwad (6 crore)

KKR:&nbsp;Andre Russell (INR 120 million, INR 160 million to be deducted from purse), Varun Chakravarthy (INR 80 million, INR 120 million to be deducted from purse), Venkatesh Iyer (INR 80 million), Sunil Narine (INR 60 million)

SRH:&nbsp;Kane Williamson (INR 140 million), Abdul Samad (INR 40 million), Umran Malik (INR 40 million)

MI:&nbsp;Rohit Sharma (INR 160 million), Jasprit Bumrah (INR 120 million), Suryakumar Yadav(INR 80 million), Kieron Pollard (INR 60 million)

RCB:&nbsp;Kohli (INR 150 million), Glenn Maxwell (INR 110 million), Mohammed Siraj (INR 70 million)

DC:&nbsp;Rishabh Pant (INR 160 million), Axar Patel (INR 90 million, INR 120 million to be deducted from purse), Prithvi Shaw (INR 75 million, INR 80 million to be deducted from purse), Anrich Nortje (INR 65 million)

RR:&nbsp;Sanju Samson (INR 140 million), Jos Buttler (INR 100 million), Yashasvi Jaiswal (INR 40 million)

PBKS:&nbsp;Mayank Agarwal (INR 120 million, INR 140 million to be deducted from purse), Arshdeep Singh (INR 40 million)

The IPL retention list was released on Tuesday evening (November 30). The eight existing IPL franchises released their set of retained players as many established names found themselves being retained, by their respective teams, whereas some big names have been released and will proceed to the mega auction, to be held in early 2022.

The IPL retention list was released on Tuesday evening (November 30). The eight existing IPL franchises released their set of retained players as many established names found themselves being retained, by their respective teams, whereas some big names have been released and will proceed to the mega auction, to be held in early 2022. (The two new teams will also get a chance to pick three players each prior to the auction). While MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli and undoubtedly two of the biggest names in IPL, the superstar duo took paycuts in order to boost Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) purse, respectively, and help rebuild in the mega auction. For the unversed, Dhoni agreed to be the second-retention choice for CSK, for 12 crores (120 million), whereas all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was retained as the Yellow Army's top-choice player, for 16 crores (160 million). On the other hand, Kohli remained the top-choice for RCB in their retention list, however, he chose to have a pay cut of 2 crores (being retained for 15 crores, i.e. 150 million) before the mega auction. ALSO READ | IPL retention: Who's in, who's out ahead of mega auction? All you need to know Both Dhoni and Kohli have been IPL legends. While the CSK skipper has led the Men in Yellow to four IPL titles, he has amassed 4,746 runs in 220 matches along with being the wicketkeeper with most dismissals overall (161). On the other hand, the 33-year-old Kohli has led RCB to the 2016 IPL final and is the leading run-getter in the tournament-history, with 6,283 runs in 207 games. ALSO READ | Chennai Super Kings complete retention list: CSK retain MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja and two others Here's the list of retained players: CSK: Jadeja (16 cr), Dhoni (12 cr), Moeen Ali (8 cr), Ruturaj Gaikwad (6 crore) KKR: Andre Russell (INR 120 million, INR 160 million to be deducted from purse), Varun Chakravarthy (INR 80 million, INR 120 million to be deducted from purse), Venkatesh Iyer (INR 80 million), Sunil Narine (INR 60 million) SRH: Kane Williamson (INR 140 million), Abdul Samad (INR 40 million), Umran Malik (INR 40 million) MI: Rohit Sharma (INR 160 million), Jasprit Bumrah (INR 120 million), Suryakumar Yadav(INR 80 million), Kieron Pollard (INR 60 million) RCB: Kohli (INR 150 million), Glenn Maxwell (INR 110 million), Mohammed Siraj (INR 70 million) DC: Rishabh Pant (INR 160 million), Axar Patel (INR 90 million, INR 120 million to be deducted from purse), Prithvi Shaw (INR 75 million, INR 80 million to be deducted from purse), Anrich Nortje (INR 65 million) RR: Sanju Samson (INR 140 million), Jos Buttler (INR 100 million), Yashasvi Jaiswal (INR 40 million) PBKS: Mayank Agarwal (INR 120 million, INR 140 million to be deducted from purse), Arshdeep Singh (INR 40 million)

IPL retention: MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli win hearts as superstar duo take paycuts ahead of mega auction

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises released names of retained players ahead of the mega auction, which will take place in January. As per the BCCI rules, each team had a total salary cap of INR 900 million available at the mega auction that will have two new teams in the next edition.

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises released names of retained players ahead of the mega auction, which will take place in January. As per the BCCI rules, each team had a total salary cap of INR 900 million available at the mega auction that will have two new teams in the next edition. The eight existing franchises were eligible to retain up to four players with a maximum of three Indians, two overseas players and two uncapped Indians. Some star players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni were retained by their respective franchises - Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. ALSO READ | IPL: Royal Challengers Bangalore retention list - RCB retain Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and one more On the other hand, KL Rahul, Rashid Khan and Hardik Pandya are among the big names that haven't been retained by their franchises Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians respectively. A total of 27 players have been retained, of which eight are overseas and four are uncapped Indians. CSK, DC, KKR and MI opted to retain four players each while RR, RCB and SRH retained three. Punjab Kings on the other hand held on to two players. Here's the list of retained players: CSK: Ravindra Jadeja (INR 160 million), MS Dhoni (INR 120 million), Moeen Ali (INR 80 million), Ruturaj Gaikwad (INR 60 million) KKR: Andre Russell (INR 120 million, INR 160 million to be deducted from purse), Varun Chakravarthy (INR 80 million, INR 120 million to be deducted from purse), Venkatesh Iyer (INR 80 million), Sunil Narine (INR 60 million) SRH: Kane Williamson (INR 140 million), Abdul Samad (INR 40 million), Umran Malik (INR 40 million) MI: Rohit Sharma (INR 160 million), Jasprit Bumrah (INR 120 million), Suryakumar Yadav(INR 80 million), Kieron Pollard (INR 60 million) ALSO READ | Kolkata Knight Riders complete retention list: KKR retain Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer and two others RCB: Virat Kohli (INR 150 million), Glenn Maxwell (INR 110 million), Mohammed Siraj (INR 70 million) DC: Rishabh Pant (INR 160 million), Axar Patel (INR 90 million, INR 120 million to be deducted from purse), Prithvi Shaw (INR 75 million, INR 80 million to be deducted from purse), Anrich Nortje (INR 65 million) RR: Sanju Samson (INR 140 million), Jos Buttler (INR 100 million), Yashasvi Jaiswal (INR 40 million) PBKS: Mayank Agarwal (INR 120 million, INR 140 million to be deducted from purse), Arshdeep Singh (INR 40 million) As per the BCCI rules, if a team retains four players, then a sum of INR 420 million will be deducted. The deduction for three players will be summed at INR 330 million. The deduction from the purse for two players would come to INR 240 million and for one player and the amount comes to a whopping INR 140 million for that one player. After retaining the players, PBKS have the highest salary purse available with INR 720 million while Delhi Capitals have least at INR 475 million to be used at the mega auction. There will be no Right To Match (RTM) cards available this time. The next edition will have two new teams - Lucknow and Ahmedabad - with the competition featuring 74 matches where each side plays seven home and seven away games.

IPL retention: Who's in, who's out ahead of mega auction? All you need to know

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have retained captain MS Dhoni and three others ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. There were a lot of speculations surrounding Dhoni's future after he led CSK to their fourth IPL title this year, however, CSK have put the rumours to bed by retaining their charismatic leader.

39-year-old Dhoni is no more the player he once was when it comes to his batting and his struggles have been evident in the last couple of seasons of the IPL. However, Dhoni remains one of the best captains in the league and marshalled his troops to perfection last season.

He is unlikely to continue for the full three seasons after being retained but Dhoni will certainly lead CSK in IPL 2022 next year. The four-time champions have also retained star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, opening batter Ruturak Gaikwad and all-rounder Moeen Ali.

Dhoni has been retained by CSK as the second-choice player for Rs 12&nbsp;crore (INR 120 million) while Jadeja has been the first-choice retention for Rs 16&nbsp;crore (INR 160 million). Ali is CSK's third-choice retained player and will be drawing a salary of Rs 8 crore (INR 80 million) while Gaikwad&nbsp;has been retained for Rs 6&nbsp;crore (INR 60&nbsp;million).

Chennai Super Kings complete list of retained players:

Ravindra Jadeja - Rs 16 crore

MS Dhoni - Rs 12 crore

Moeen Ali - Rs 8 crore&nbsp;

Ruturaj Gaikwad - Rs 6 crore&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mi-complete-retentions-list-rohit-sharma-jasprit-bumrah-suryakumar-yadav-and-kieron-pollard-retained-433065">MI complete retentions list: Rohit, Bumrah, Suryakumar&nbsp;and Pollard retained</a>

While Dhoni and Jadeja was obvious choices for CSK, Ali, who was roped in by the franchise last year has been retained ahead of the likes of Sam Curran and Faf du Plessis. Ali had notched up 357 runs and picked up six wickets for CSK in IPL 2020 helping them win their fourth title.

Gaikwad has been rewarded after a stelar season in IPL 2020 where he bagged the Orange Cap for being the highest run-getter. Gaikwad amassed 635 runs in IPL 2020 and was one of the most consistent batters in the league. He is likely to continue opening the innings for CSK for the next three years.

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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have retained captain MS Dhoni and three others ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. There were a lot of speculations surrounding Dhoni's future after he led CSK to their fourth IPL title this year, however, CSK have put the rumours to bed by retaining their charismatic leader.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have retained captain MS Dhoni and three others ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. There were a lot of speculations surrounding Dhoni's future after he led CSK to their fourth IPL title this year, however, CSK have put the rumours to bed by retaining their charismatic leader. 39-year-old Dhoni is no more the player he once was when it comes to his batting and his struggles have been evident in the last couple of seasons of the IPL. However, Dhoni remains one of the best captains in the league and marshalled his troops to perfection last season. He is unlikely to continue for the full three seasons after being retained but Dhoni will certainly lead CSK in IPL 2022 next year. The four-time champions have also retained star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, opening batter Ruturak Gaikwad and all-rounder Moeen Ali. Dhoni has been retained by CSK as the second-choice player for Rs 12 crore (INR 120 million) while Jadeja has been the first-choice retention for Rs 16 crore (INR 160 million). Ali is CSK's third-choice retained player and will be drawing a salary of Rs 8 crore (INR 80 million) while Gaikwad has been retained for Rs 6 crore (INR 60 million). Chennai Super Kings complete list of retained players: Ravindra Jadeja - Rs 16 crore MS Dhoni - Rs 12 crore Moeen Ali - Rs 8 crore Ruturaj Gaikwad - Rs 6 crore Also Read: MI complete retentions list: Rohit, Bumrah, Suryakumar and Pollard retained While Dhoni and Jadeja was obvious choices for CSK, Ali, who was roped in by the franchise last year has been retained ahead of the likes of Sam Curran and Faf du Plessis. Ali had notched up 357 runs and picked up six wickets for CSK in IPL 2020 helping them win their fourth title. Gaikwad has been rewarded after a stelar season in IPL 2020 where he bagged the Orange Cap for being the highest run-getter. Gaikwad amassed 635 runs in IPL 2020 and was one of the most consistent batters in the league. He is likely to continue opening the innings for CSK for the next three years.

Chennai Super Kings complete retention list: CSK retain MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja and two others

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir recently named four players Chennai Super Kings (CSK) should retain ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. November 30 (Tuesday) is the deadline for the existing eight franchises to submit their final list of retained players. A team can retain a maximum of only four players, with not more than three Indians or two overseas players as part of the final retained list.

Gambhir believes defending champions Chennai Super Kings should not retain captain MS Dhoni ahead of IPL 2022. He picked Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis and Sam Curran as his for retentions for CSK while snubbing the likes of Dhoni and Moeen Ali. Dhoni is likely to be retained by CSK, as per multiple reports, having already confirmed that he will be playing the final T20 match of his career in Chennai.

Gambhir revealed his four picks four CSK while speaking on Star Sports. As per a report in ESPN Cricinfo, Dhoni, Jadeja, Gaikwad and Moeen are set to be the four players to be retained by CSK ahead of the much-anticipated mega auction which is all set to feature a host of superstars this time around.

Despite being in the final lap of his career and there being uncertainty over his long-term future in the IPL, CSK have reposed their faith in skipper Dhoni. The former India captain had retired from international cricket in 2019 but has continued to lead CSK in the IPL.

He led the Yellow Army to their fourth IPL title triumph in IPL 2021 as CSK completed an incredible comeback after having failed to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2020. It remains to be seen who will be the final four retentions for CSK ahead of the mega auction this time around.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-to-rohit-sharma-complete-list-of-reported-retentions-for-all-8-franchises-ahead-of-ipl-mega-auction-432931">Dhoni to Rohit: Complete list of reported retentions for all 8 franchises ahead of IPL mega auction</a>

A franchise retaining four players will have to shell out Rs 42 crore (INR 420 million) from their total budget of Rs 90 crore (INR 900 million). There will be no Right To Match (RTM) option for the franchises in the mega auction this year which means they will have to be very wise in selecting their retentions.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir recently named four players Chennai Super Kings (CSK) should retain ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. November 30 (Tuesday) is the deadline for the existing eight franchises to submit their final list of retained players.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir recently named four players Chennai Super Kings (CSK) should retain ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. November 30 (Tuesday) is the deadline for the existing eight franchises to submit their final list of retained players. A team can retain a maximum of only four players, with not more than three Indians or two overseas players as part of the final retained list. Gambhir believes defending champions Chennai Super Kings should not retain captain MS Dhoni ahead of IPL 2022. He picked Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis and Sam Curran as his for retentions for CSK while snubbing the likes of Dhoni and Moeen Ali. Dhoni is likely to be retained by CSK, as per multiple reports, having already confirmed that he will be playing the final T20 match of his career in Chennai. Gambhir revealed his four picks four CSK while speaking on Star Sports. As per a report in ESPN Cricinfo, Dhoni, Jadeja, Gaikwad and Moeen are set to be the four players to be retained by CSK ahead of the much-anticipated mega auction which is all set to feature a host of superstars this time around. Despite being in the final lap of his career and there being uncertainty over his long-term future in the IPL, CSK have reposed their faith in skipper Dhoni. The former India captain had retired from international cricket in 2019 but has continued to lead CSK in the IPL. He led the Yellow Army to their fourth IPL title triumph in IPL 2021 as CSK completed an incredible comeback after having failed to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2020. It remains to be seen who will be the final four retentions for CSK ahead of the mega auction this time around. Also Read: Dhoni to Rohit: Complete list of reported retentions for all 8 franchises ahead of IPL mega auction A franchise retaining four players will have to shell out Rs 42 crore (INR 420 million) from their total budget of Rs 90 crore (INR 900 million). There will be no Right To Match (RTM) option for the franchises in the mega auction this year which means they will have to be very wise in selecting their retentions.

No MS Dhoni! Gautam Gambhir picks his four retentions for Chennai Super Kings

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be looking to retain a strong core group of players ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. The four-time champions have a number of players on the wrong side of their 30s and are set for a major overhaul this time around.

The deadline for the existing eight IPL teams to submit their final list of retained players is November 30 (Tuesday). All eight teams can retain a maximum of four players each while the two new teams - Lucknow and Ahmedabad can pick three players each from the pool of non-retained players.

Former Chennai Super Kings star Subramaniam Badrinath recently picked four players who he feels the franchise should retain ahead of the mega auction. Badrinath picked captain MS Dhoni, star Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and openers Faf du Plessis, and Ruturaj Gaikwad as the four players CSK should keep.

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As per multiple reports, CSK are set to retain the trio of Dhoni, Jadeja and Gaikwad but have not yet decided on who should be their final fourth retention. All-rounders Moeen Ali and Sam Curran are reportedly among the favourites to be retained by the franchise, however, no official confirmation has been made yet.

The decision to retain Dhoni will not be an easy one for CSK as the captain cool is past his best now and is no more than batter he once was. Dhoni's waning prowess with the bat and his struggles have been quite evident in the last couple of seasons.

While he has already retired from international cricket, Dhoni continues to lead CSK in the IPL. He is set to be retained but the CSK captain, as per reports, has asked the franchise to not retain him as a first-choice player and instead give better deals to the other players who are to be retained.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/most-expensive-player-in-ipl-kl-rahul-offered-staggering-amount-by-lucknow-franchise-report-432718">Most expensive player in IPL? KL Rahul offered staggering amount by Lucknow franchise&nbsp;</a>

Chennai Super Kings, who had missed out on a spot in the playoffs in IPL 2020, made a stunning comeback in IPL 2021 as they went on to lift the trophy for the fourth time in the history of the competition. CSK remains one of the most successful franchises in the history of IPL with four titles and nine final appearances in just 12 seasons.

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Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be looking to retain a strong core group of players ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. The four-time champions have a number of players on the wrong side of their 30s and are set for a major overhaul this time around.

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be looking to retain a strong core group of players ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. The four-time champions have a number of players on the wrong side of their 30s and are set for a major overhaul this time around. The deadline for the existing eight IPL teams to submit their final list of retained players is November 30 (Tuesday). All eight teams can retain a maximum of four players each while the two new teams - Lucknow and Ahmedabad can pick three players each from the pool of non-retained players. Former Chennai Super Kings star Subramaniam Badrinath recently picked four players who he feels the franchise should retain ahead of the mega auction. Badrinath picked captain MS Dhoni, star Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and openers Faf du Plessis, and Ruturaj Gaikwad as the four players CSK should keep. As per multiple reports, CSK are set to retain the trio of Dhoni, Jadeja and Gaikwad but have not yet decided on who should be their final fourth retention. All-rounders Moeen Ali and Sam Curran are reportedly among the favourites to be retained by the franchise, however, no official confirmation has been made yet. The decision to retain Dhoni will not be an easy one for CSK as the captain cool is past his best now and is no more than batter he once was. Dhoni's waning prowess with the bat and his struggles have been quite evident in the last couple of seasons. While he has already retired from international cricket, Dhoni continues to lead CSK in the IPL. He is set to be retained but the CSK captain, as per reports, has asked the franchise to not retain him as a first-choice player and instead give better deals to the other players who are to be retained. Also Read: Most expensive player in IPL? KL Rahul offered staggering amount by Lucknow franchise Chennai Super Kings, who had missed out on a spot in the playoffs in IPL 2020, made a stunning comeback in IPL 2021 as they went on to lift the trophy for the fourth time in the history of the competition. CSK remains one of the most successful franchises in the history of IPL with four titles and nine final appearances in just 12 seasons.

No Raina, Moeen Ali! Former CSK star names four players MS Dhoni & Co. should retain ahead of IPL 2022

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni's future remains one of the hottest topics of debate as the deadline for the final retentions for all eight existing Indian Premier League (IPL) team approaches. Each of the eight teams has been allowed a maximum of four retentions each with November 30 the deadline to reveal the list of retained players.

Dhoni is all set to be retained by CSK but there remain doubts over how long can he continue with the Men in Yellow. Speaking at CSK's title celebration ceremony in Chennai last week, Dhoni had confirmed he will play his final T20 game in the city but had remained coy on his IPL future stating that he doesn't know whether his last game will be next year or five years later.

39-year-old Dhoni is no more the player he once was as a batter but continues to be one of the best captains in the league. While he is all set to be retained, former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull has made a bold prediction about the CSK skipper's future. Doull believes Dhoni will not play the full season for CSK next year.

When asked to pick his four retentions for CSK, Doull named Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja and Faf du Plessis as his picks while adding that Du Plessis will be leading the side midway through the season next year after Dhoni plays his final game in Chennai.

“It's really easy for me, one of them is playing here at the moment Ravindra Jadeja. I think what we saw from Ruturaj Gaikwad, he must be retained. They do not want to let him go anywhere and the combination at the top of the order with Faf du Plessis," Doull said on Star Sports.

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“To bring MS beside to play his final game and Faf du Plessis will take over the captaincy in IPL in April-May next year. So that's my thinking and I don't think MS will play the full season, I think Faf will take over at some stage through the season. But I think there will be a home game, where they announce it will be his last game and Faf will take over the captaincy after that," he added.

Dhoni, who is in the final lap&nbsp;of his career having already retired from international cricket, was expected to retire after leading CSK to their fourth IPL triumph in the 2021 season. However, he has decided to continue playing and might play beyond the 2022 season depending on the needs of the franchise.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-not-keen-to-be-csks-first-choice-retention-wants-higher-salary-for-other-players-report-432296">Dhoni not keen to be CSK's first-choice retention, wants higher salary for other players - Report</a>

Former India pacer Irfan Pathan disagreed with Doull's prediction about Du Plessis leading CSK after Dhoni and said young Gaikwad, who has been consistent in the last two seasons will be an ideal fit to be groomed as a captain. He also suggested that CSK would retain an all-rounder like Moeen Ali or Sam Curran and not Du Plessis as their fourth player.

“Mahendra Singh Dhoni yes, Ravindra Jadeja yes, Ruturaj Gaikwad absolutely yes. You might see the future in him as far as the leadership is concern, what he has shown consistency, that has been outstanding," said Pathan.

"But the fourth one? Sometime back I was thinking about Faf du Plessis, he is 37-year-old. You don't wanna let go off an all-rounder, either it's Sam Curran or Moeen Ali. I would go with Moeen Ali for the fourth spot,” he added. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni's future remains one of the hottest topics of debate as the deadline for the final retentions for all eight existing Indian Premier League (IPL) team approaches.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni's future remains one of the hottest topics of debate as the deadline for the final retentions for all eight existing Indian Premier League (IPL) team approaches. Each of the eight teams has been allowed a maximum of four retentions each with November 30 the deadline to reveal the list of retained players. Dhoni is all set to be retained by CSK but there remain doubts over how long can he continue with the Men in Yellow. Speaking at CSK's title celebration ceremony in Chennai last week, Dhoni had confirmed he will play his final T20 game in the city but had remained coy on his IPL future stating that he doesn't know whether his last game will be next year or five years later. 39-year-old Dhoni is no more the player he once was as a batter but continues to be one of the best captains in the league. While he is all set to be retained, former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull has made a bold prediction about the CSK skipper's future. Doull believes Dhoni will not play the full season for CSK next year. When asked to pick his four retentions for CSK, Doull named Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja and Faf du Plessis as his picks while adding that Du Plessis will be leading the side midway through the season next year after Dhoni plays his final game in Chennai. “It's really easy for me, one of them is playing here at the moment Ravindra Jadeja. I think what we saw from Ruturaj Gaikwad, he must be retained. They do not want to let him go anywhere and the combination at the top of the order with Faf du Plessis," Doull said on Star Sports. Also Read: Shreyas Iyer to Mumbai Indians? Rohit Sharma-led side keen on roping in Indian star at IPL mega auction “To bring MS beside to play his final game and Faf du Plessis will take over the captaincy in IPL in April-May next year. So that's my thinking and I don't think MS will play the full season, I think Faf will take over at some stage through the season. But I think there will be a home game, where they announce it will be his last game and Faf will take over the captaincy after that," he added. Dhoni, who is in the final lap of his career having already retired from international cricket, was expected to retire after leading CSK to their fourth IPL triumph in the 2021 season. However, he has decided to continue playing and might play beyond the 2022 season depending on the needs of the franchise. Also Read: Dhoni not keen to be CSK's first-choice retention, wants higher salary for other players - Report Former India pacer Irfan Pathan disagreed with Doull's prediction about Du Plessis leading CSK after Dhoni and said young Gaikwad, who has been consistent in the last two seasons will be an ideal fit to be groomed as a captain. He also suggested that CSK would retain an all-rounder like Moeen Ali or Sam Curran and not Du Plessis as their fourth player. “Mahendra Singh Dhoni yes, Ravindra Jadeja yes, Ruturaj Gaikwad absolutely yes. You might see the future in him as far as the leadership is concern, what he has shown consistency, that has been outstanding," said Pathan. "But the fourth one? Sometime back I was thinking about Faf du Plessis, he is 37-year-old. You don't wanna let go off an all-rounder, either it's Sam Curran or Moeen Ali. I would go with Moeen Ali for the fourth spot,” he added.

'Don't think MS Dhoni will play full season': Ex-NZ bowler makes bold prediction on CSK captain's IPL future

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are reportedly set to retain their captain MS Dhoni ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction for the 2022 season. Despite Dhoni being in the final lap of his career, CSK wants him to continue leading the franchise for the next few years until he decides to hang up his boots completely from all forms of cricket.

The 39-year-old had retired from international cricket in August last year but continued to ply his trade in the IPL. While Dhoni is no more the player he once was as far as his batting is concerned, he remains one of the best captains in the league and led CSK to a memorable triumph in IPL 2021 this year.

However, considering Dhoni's waning prowess with the bat and his age, there was scepticism over his retention ahead of the mega auction set to be conducted before the 2022 season as CSK would have to shell out a whopping amount of money to keep him.

Dhoni himself had expressed concerns over his future and said the call will be taken by&nbsp;the franchise after the retention rules were clear. With the existing eight franchises allowed to retain a maximum of four players each, CSK has decided to retain Dhoni as their first-choice player.

However, as per a report in ESPN Cricinfo, Dhoni is not keen on being the first-choice retention for the side and wants CSK to give the higher salary to other players. CSK want to keep Dhoni as their no.1 retention for Rs 16 crore (INR 160 million) so that they can have a big purse ahead of the 2023 auction if the captain retires, however, Dhoni wants better deals for others and not him.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-will-keep-whom-list-of-players-likely-to-be-retained-by-csk-kkr-dc-and-mi-ahead-of-ipl-mega-auction-432050">List of players likely to be retained by CSK, KKR, DC and MI ahead of IPL mega auction</a>

Any franchise retaining four players will have to shell out a whopping Rs 42 crore (INR 420 million) from their total purse of Rs 90 crore (INR 900 million). The first-choice retention will get Rs 16 crore while the other three will get Rs 12 crore, Rs 8 crore and Rs 6 crore respectively.

CSK have reportedly zeroed in on retaining Dhoni, opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. One out of England all-rounders Moeen Ali and Sam Curran might become their final retention ahead of the mega auction.

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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are reportedly set to retain their captain MS Dhoni ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction for the 2022 season. Despite Dhoni being in the final lap of his career, CSK wants him to continue leading the franchise for the next few years until he decides to hang up his boots completely from all forms of cricket.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are reportedly set to retain their captain MS Dhoni ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction for the 2022 season. Despite Dhoni being in the final lap of his career, CSK wants him to continue leading the franchise for the next few years until he decides to hang up his boots completely from all forms of cricket. The 39-year-old had retired from international cricket in August last year but continued to ply his trade in the IPL. While Dhoni is no more the player he once was as far as his batting is concerned, he remains one of the best captains in the league and led CSK to a memorable triumph in IPL 2021 this year. However, considering Dhoni's waning prowess with the bat and his age, there was scepticism over his retention ahead of the mega auction set to be conducted before the 2022 season as CSK would have to shell out a whopping amount of money to keep him. Dhoni himself had expressed concerns over his future and said the call will be taken by the franchise after the retention rules were clear. With the existing eight franchises allowed to retain a maximum of four players each, CSK has decided to retain Dhoni as their first-choice player. However, as per a report in ESPN Cricinfo, Dhoni is not keen on being the first-choice retention for the side and wants CSK to give the higher salary to other players. CSK want to keep Dhoni as their no.1 retention for Rs 16 crore (INR 160 million) so that they can have a big purse ahead of the 2023 auction if the captain retires, however, Dhoni wants better deals for others and not him. Also Read: List of players likely to be retained by CSK, KKR, DC and MI ahead of IPL mega auction Any franchise retaining four players will have to shell out a whopping Rs 42 crore (INR 420 million) from their total purse of Rs 90 crore (INR 900 million). The first-choice retention will get Rs 16 crore while the other three will get Rs 12 crore, Rs 8 crore and Rs 6 crore respectively. CSK have reportedly zeroed in on retaining Dhoni, opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. One out of England all-rounders Moeen Ali and Sam Curran might become their final retention ahead of the mega auction.

MS Dhoni not keen to be CSK's first-choice retention, wants higher salary for other players - Report

His career spanned for 16 years (1996-2012). Sticking to his reputation of being a 'Test specialist', he proved his critics right and amassed 13,288 runs in the format. During his early days, not many rated him as an ODI player. However, he was far from being a pushover in ODIs and ended with 10,288 runs&nbsp;(to date, he is among five Indian players with over 10k runs in 50-over format).&nbsp;

Rahul Dravid is synonymous to breaking norm without creating much fuss. When the legendary cricketer first appeared in international cricket, he was the first to accept that he was far from the best. Having someone of the stature of Sachin Tendulkar, who was already in his seventh year in international cricket, Dravid started his initial years trying to fit into the national side.&nbsp;

Dravid's zeal to perfect his game was evident right from the start.&nbsp;Hence, he performed at his best in the 1999 ODI World Cup while playing as a top-order batsman. As a result, he ended being the highest run-getter (461 runs) despite many feeling that ODIs weren't his cup of tea. While his ardent fans remember him as the country's greatest No. 3 Test batsman, one of his most defining knocks in whites came at No. 6 (180 in the 2001 Kolkata Test versus Australia). Thus, his relentless, childlike passion to better himself and serve the team in any manner caught up with fans instantly.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-will-do-kapil-dev-makes-bold-claim-on-team-indias-head-coach-rahul-dravid-432134">'He will do....' - Kapil Dev makes bold claim on Team India's head coach Rahul Dravid</a>

The challenges multiplied as years progressed for Dravid in international cricket. When Sourav Ganguly-led India were struggling to finalise a wicketkeeper-batsman in the line-up, the then skipper turned to his deputy in Dravid. In the 2003 ODI World Cup, Dravid returned with third-most dismissals among keepers (16). While he was reluctant to take the gloves at first, the former cricketer gave in just for the sake of adding more to the national side (vastly helping in the team combination). While run-making was his primary job, Dravid didn't believe in doing the routine business and moving&nbsp;aside. Time and again, he raised his hands to volunteer in bailing Team India out of crisis.

Before world cricket recognised MS Dhoni's brilliance as a finisher and he became the darling of his nation, Dravid also&nbsp;did the same job with distinction. Even before his captaincy stint, Dravid finished many innings and games with a bang (versus Sri Lanka, England, West Indies). In addition, his strike-rate soared significantly while batting with the captain's tag next to his name. Once slammed for being&nbsp;slow and a perfect foil to draw Test matches, the right-hander struck at 75. 42 as an ODI captain. It is to be noted that his overall strike-rate reads 71.23. Moreover, he struck at a whopping 83.64 in 2007.

Dravid also took over as India's captain in one of their most-troubled times (in the aftermath of the infamous Ganguly-Greg Chappell era). Keeping the forgettable&nbsp;2007 ODI WC aside, India flourished under his astute leadership and tactical awareness. Further, Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, RP Singh, Irfan Pathan and many others' respective careers gained mileage under his watchful eyes. In addition, India became a daunting chasing side by constantly batting second (achieving the world record of completing 17 successful ODI run-chases on the trot).

While the regular fans will remember Dravid's staggering career statistics, the&nbsp;connoisseurs of the game acknowledge that he was never&nbsp;behind bettering his numbers. The man has always been a selfless servant of Indian cricket. Hence, he has continued to remain relevant in Indian cricket's rise by constantly reinventing himself and promoting the game as a supporting actor.&nbsp;

After hanging his boots, Dravid stepped into coaching. From 2016-2019, the former Indian captain took over the reins of India A and U-19 as the head coach. Under him, youngsters such as Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Siraj, etc. have not only flourished but are now integral to Indian team across formats. His simplicity and keeping-things-simple formula has gelled well with youngsters in finding their feet. Moreover, Dravid has given equal, or more, credit to his support staff and ensured his entire unit moved together in unison.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rahul-dravid-once-scolded-him-sehwag-shares-unheard-incident-that-transformed-finisher-ms-dhoni-432151">'Rahul Dravid once scolded him' - Sehwag shares unheard incident that transformed 'finisher' MS Dhoni</a>

After the U-19 and India A coaching stint, Dravid added another new role in his glittering CV; i.e. taking over the National Cricket Academy. As the NCA head, he ensured a regular supply of young and uncapped players to the national setup, as and when required, by taking care of them in the premier academy. Moreover, the NCA also looked after the injured key players for their timely recovery.&nbsp;

At present, the 48-year-old Dravid has taken over as India's full-time head coach, till the 2023 ODI World Cup. While many would feel his stature made it easier for him to land at the top job, however, he has rightly won the post by going through the hard yards and proving that his love for Indian cricket remains unchanged.&nbsp;

Dravid has truckload of runs under his belt to prove his mettle. However, the former player doesn't deserve to be&nbsp;judged by numbers. He adds value to Indian cricket in many ways and continues to serve in any given manner; showcasing his unflinching loyalty to the country's most-loved sport.

His career spanned for 16 years (1996-2012). Sticking to his reputation of being a 'Test specialist', he proved his critics right and amassed 13,288 runs in the format.

His career spanned for 16 years (1996-2012). Sticking to his reputation of being a 'Test specialist', he proved his critics right and amassed 13,288 runs in the format. During his early days, not many rated him as an ODI player. However, he was far from being a pushover in ODIs and ended with 10,288 runs (to date, he is among five Indian players with over 10k runs in 50-over format). Rahul Dravid is synonymous to breaking norm without creating much fuss. When the legendary cricketer first appeared in international cricket, he was the first to accept that he was far from the best. Having someone of the stature of Sachin Tendulkar, who was already in his seventh year in international cricket, Dravid started his initial years trying to fit into the national side. Dravid's zeal to perfect his game was evident right from the start. Hence, he performed at his best in the 1999 ODI World Cup while playing as a top-order batsman. As a result, he ended being the highest run-getter (461 runs) despite many feeling that ODIs weren't his cup of tea. While his ardent fans remember him as the country's greatest No. 3 Test batsman, one of his most defining knocks in whites came at No. 6 (180 in the 2001 Kolkata Test versus Australia). Thus, his relentless, childlike passion to better himself and serve the team in any manner caught up with fans instantly. ALSO READ | 'He will do....' - Kapil Dev makes bold claim on Team India's head coach Rahul Dravid The challenges multiplied as years progressed for Dravid in international cricket. When Sourav Ganguly-led India were struggling to finalise a wicketkeeper-batsman in the line-up, the then skipper turned to his deputy in Dravid. In the 2003 ODI World Cup, Dravid returned with third-most dismissals among keepers (16). While he was reluctant to take the gloves at first, the former cricketer gave in just for the sake of adding more to the national side (vastly helping in the team combination). While run-making was his primary job, Dravid didn't believe in doing the routine business and moving aside. Time and again, he raised his hands to volunteer in bailing Team India out of crisis. Before world cricket recognised MS Dhoni's brilliance as a finisher and he became the darling of his nation, Dravid also did the same job with distinction. Even before his captaincy stint, Dravid finished many innings and games with a bang (versus Sri Lanka, England, West Indies). In addition, his strike-rate soared significantly while batting with the captain's tag next to his name. Once slammed for being slow and a perfect foil to draw Test matches, the right-hander struck at 75. 42 as an ODI captain. It is to be noted that his overall strike-rate reads 71.23. Moreover, he struck at a whopping 83.64 in 2007. Dravid also took over as India's captain in one of their most-troubled times (in the aftermath of the infamous Ganguly-Greg Chappell era). Keeping the forgettable 2007 ODI WC aside, India flourished under his astute leadership and tactical awareness. Further, Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, RP Singh, Irfan Pathan and many others' respective careers gained mileage under his watchful eyes. In addition, India became a daunting chasing side by constantly batting second (achieving the world record of completing 17 successful ODI run-chases on the trot). While the regular fans will remember Dravid's staggering career statistics, the connoisseurs of the game acknowledge that he was never behind bettering his numbers. The man has always been a selfless servant of Indian cricket. Hence, he has continued to remain relevant in Indian cricket's rise by constantly reinventing himself and promoting the game as a supporting actor. After hanging his boots, Dravid stepped into coaching. From 2016-2019, the former Indian captain took over the reins of India A and U-19 as the head coach. Under him, youngsters such as Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Siraj, etc. have not only flourished but are now integral to Indian team across formats. His simplicity and keeping-things-simple formula has gelled well with youngsters in finding their feet. Moreover, Dravid has given equal, or more, credit to his support staff and ensured his entire unit moved together in unison. ALSO READ | 'Rahul Dravid once scolded him' - Sehwag shares unheard incident that transformed 'finisher' MS Dhoni After the U-19 and India A coaching stint, Dravid added another new role in his glittering CV; i.e. taking over the National Cricket Academy. As the NCA head, he ensured a regular supply of young and uncapped players to the national setup, as and when required, by taking care of them in the premier academy. Moreover, the NCA also looked after the injured key players for their timely recovery. At present, the 48-year-old Dravid has taken over as India's full-time head coach, till the 2023 ODI World Cup. While many would feel his stature made it easier for him to land at the top job, however, he has rightly won the post by going through the hard yards and proving that his love for Indian cricket remains unchanged. Dravid has truckload of runs under his belt to prove his mettle. However, the former player doesn't deserve to be judged by numbers. He adds value to Indian cricket in many ways and continues to serve in any given manner; showcasing his unflinching loyalty to the country's most-loved sport.

The Wall remains rock solid: Rahul Dravid's loyalty to Indian cricket is applaudable

MS Dhoni is regarded as one of the finest cricketers to have graced the gentlemen's game. Dhoni came into the scene in late 2004 and retired from international cricket on August 15, 2020. During his stint at the international level, Dhoni established himself in varied roles.

Dhoni broke into the scene and became a household name for his hitting prowess. Soon, he transformed himself into a mature finisher, able wicketkeeper, Captain Cool, handy Test batsman, etc. While he donned many roles, it took sometime for him to hone his skills in the many responsibilities he had undertaken.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-will-do-kapil-dev-makes-bold-claim-on-team-indias-head-coach-rahul-dravid-432134">'He will do....' - Kapil Dev makes bold claim on Team India's head coach Rahul Dravid</a>

Dhoni is regarded as one of the greatest finishers of all-time. However, there was a time when he was scolded by Team India's head coach Rahul Dravid for not finishing a game and getting out. Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag shared the unheard incident recently.

Sehwag told India TV, "He was given the finisher’s role under Dravid, who once scolded him for getting out after playing a bad shot. I think that incident changed him. So around 2006-07, he transformed and started taking responsibility of finishing matches. He (Dhoni) formed an unbelievable partnership with Yuvraj when we registered that record of 16 successive chases (during Dravid's captaincy era)."

Further, Sehwag also credited Sourav Ganguly for the sacrifice he made to ensure Dhoni flourished as a cricketer. "Those days (2005) we were experimenting with pinch-hitters. Dada (Ganguly) had planned that Dhoni would get 3-4 chances at No. 3. If it works then fine, otherwise they would try someone else. Very few captains do it. He first sacrificed his (opening) spot for me and then he gave his slot to Dhoni. If Dada had not done that, Dhoni might not have become such a big player."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-virat-kohli-or-rohit-sharma-former-pakistan-pacer-md-amir-picks-hardest-batsman-to-bowl-at-432100">Not Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma! Former Pakistan pacer Md. Amir picks 'hardest batsman to bowl at'</a>

Dhoni was seen in the Team India dugout as the mentor during their forgettable T20 World Cup 2021 campaign, in the UAE. He is now gearing up for the IPL 2022 edition, where he will lead Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after taking them to their fourth title in IPL 14. Meanwhile, Dravid has taken over as India's full-time coach till 2023 ODI World Cup.

MS Dhoni is regarded as one of the finest cricketers to have graced the gentlemen's game. Dhoni came into the scene in late 2004 and retired from international cricket on August 15, 2020.

MS Dhoni is regarded as one of the finest cricketers to have graced the gentlemen's game. Dhoni came into the scene in late 2004 and retired from international cricket on August 15, 2020. During his stint at the international level, Dhoni established himself in varied roles. Dhoni broke into the scene and became a household name for his hitting prowess. Soon, he transformed himself into a mature finisher, able wicketkeeper, Captain Cool, handy Test batsman, etc. While he donned many roles, it took sometime for him to hone his skills in the many responsibilities he had undertaken. ALSO READ | 'He will do....' - Kapil Dev makes bold claim on Team India's head coach Rahul Dravid Dhoni is regarded as one of the greatest finishers of all-time. However, there was a time when he was scolded by Team India's head coach Rahul Dravid for not finishing a game and getting out. Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag shared the unheard incident recently. Sehwag told India TV, "He was given the finisher’s role under Dravid, who once scolded him for getting out after playing a bad shot. I think that incident changed him. So around 2006-07, he transformed and started taking responsibility of finishing matches. He (Dhoni) formed an unbelievable partnership with Yuvraj when we registered that record of 16 successive chases (during Dravid's captaincy era)." Further, Sehwag also credited Sourav Ganguly for the sacrifice he made to ensure Dhoni flourished as a cricketer. "Those days (2005) we were experimenting with pinch-hitters. Dada (Ganguly) had planned that Dhoni would get 3-4 chances at No. 3. If it works then fine, otherwise they would try someone else. Very few captains do it. He first sacrificed his (opening) spot for me and then he gave his slot to Dhoni. If Dada had not done that, Dhoni might not have become such a big player." ALSO READ | Not Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma! Former Pakistan pacer Md. Amir picks 'hardest batsman to bowl at' Dhoni was seen in the Team India dugout as the mentor during their forgettable T20 World Cup 2021 campaign, in the UAE. He is now gearing up for the IPL 2022 edition, where he will lead Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after taking them to their fourth title in IPL 14. Meanwhile, Dravid has taken over as India's full-time coach till 2023 ODI World Cup.

'Rahul Dravid once scolded him' - Sehwag shares unheard incident that transformed 'finisher' MS Dhoni

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