“Impact Player Rule Won’t apply on Dhoni”- Virender Sehwag on MS Dhoni’s Future in IPL

There have been constant speculations about the IPL 2023 final being MS Dhoni’s last game in the cash-rich league. Ahead of the CSK vs GT clash in the final, former Indian batter Virender Sehwag has come up with a bold statement on Dhoni’s future in IPL as he believes that the Impact Player rule won’t apply on the CSK skipper.

Virender Sehwag insists that Dhoni will either continue to play as a first-team player or will retire but won’t participate as an Impact Player. MS Dhoni has mostly batted at the number 8 position in IPL 2023 as they get the opportunity to play an extra batter as per the Impact Player rule.

“It’s not difficult (to play cricket in 40s), if you’re fit. MS Dhoni hasn’t batted too much this year. He’s not aggravating his knee injury. Often, he would come in the last two overs. If I count the total balls he faced, I think he would’ve faced 40-50 deliveries this season,” Virender Sehwag said while speaking on Cricbuzz.

Impact Player rule is for someone who doesn’t field but bats: Virender Sehwag

“Impact Player rule doesn’t apply on MS Dhoni. Because he’s playing only for captaincy. He has to stay in the ground for captaincy. Impact Player rule is for someone who doesn’t field but bats, or a bowler who doesn’t need to bat. Dhoni has to field 20 overs; if he’s not the captain, he won’t even play as Impact Player,” the former Indian batter discussed about MS Dhoni’s future in IPL.

MS Dhoni himself had earlier stated that he’s in no hurry to decide about playing in the next edition of IPL. The Chennai Super Kings‘ skipper made it pretty clear that the next auction is in December and he has got enough time to think before that.

CSK’s bowling coach Dwayne Bravo had earlier said that the Impact Player rule would make it easier for Dhoni to play for the side in the future. The rule will help Dhoni as he would not necessarily need to bat and can still lead the side.

Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings will take on Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2023 Final on May 29 which is the reserve day for the final. Earlier, the game was postponed as rain played spoilsport on May 28.