‘At 43, MS Dhoni has the quickest fingers as a wicketkeeper’: Robin Uthappa | Cricket Information – The Instances of India

NEW DELHI: The upcoming IPL season may give cricket followers one other glimpse of MS Dhoni’s brilliance, as the previous Chennai Tremendous Kings (CSK) captain is anticipated to bat decrease within the order at No. 7 or No. 8. In accordance with former India batter Robin Uthappa, this technique would permit Dhoni to maximise his affect in a restricted variety of deliveries.
At 43, Dhoni has proven no indicators of slowing down, proving his readiness for IPL 2025 throughout a CSK internet session on Tuesday. In a show of his signature power-hitting, he launched a searing yorker from Matheesha Pathirana over the bowler’s head along with his trademark helicopter shot.

“So far as Mahi is anxious, I feel we’ll get to see glimpses of his brilliance as a result of I’ve a sense that he may bat at quantity 7 or quantity 8. Very very similar to final 12 months, and we’ll see him bat between 12 and 20 balls by way of the season,” Uthappa mentioned.
Nonetheless, when requested if this could be Dhoni’s last IPL season, Uthappa remained non-committal.
“I do not assume the eagerness ever dies. MS’ love for the sport has not dwindled in any respect. I feel his ardour for the sport retains him going. At 43, I feel he is bought the quickest fingers on the earth as a wicketkeeper.

“And when you’ve bought these expertise and when you’ve bought the eagerness to maintain going, I do not assume something ought to cease you. I will not be shocked if he retires on the finish of the season. However I will not be shocked if he even goes on to play for one more 4 seasons after this,” Uthappa, a JioStar knowledgeable, mentioned whereas addressing the media earlier than the beginning of IPL 2025.
BIG SEASON FOR KOHLI AND ROHIT
The IPL 2025 season will even mark the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the T20 format for the primary time since India’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2024.
Uthappa believes each veteran batters are set for a wonderful season.
“I do not assume they’re going to have even an iota of points to come back on the market and smash the residing daylights out of bowlers. Virat has actually come by way of in good kind. He is acquainted with situations in Bangalore, and he is at all times going to thrive there,” he mentioned.
“Within the current previous, Rohit hasn’t lived as much as his potential because the extremely dynamic batter that he’s within the IPL. But it surely seems to be like all the things goes his method at this cut-off date. So, I would not put it previous him to have one among his greatest seasons within the IPL,” Uthappa added.

CHALLENGES FOR NEW CAPTAINS AXAR AND PATIDAR
This IPL season will even see first-time captains main franchises, with Axar Patel taking cost of Delhi Capitals and Rajat Patidar captaining Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Uthappa acknowledged the challenges forward for the 2 younger skippers however expressed confidence of their potential to adapt.
“Axar will probably be in just a little bit higher stead as a result of even with the new-ish aspect, there are nonetheless quite a lot of acquainted faces. With Rajat additionally, it is a comparable state of affairs. However Rajat should take care of the superstardom of Kohli inside that aspect. So, he can lean on Kohli’s captaincy expertise quite a bit. Rajat is in a singular place to have the ability to take RCB ahead.
“Rajat being there on the helm proper now, he should determine his mode of management. He has completed pretty nicely with management in home cricket.”
One other main problem for each captains will probably be managing their bowlers in high-scoring venues like Bengaluru and Delhi, the place shorter boundaries typically negate home-ground benefits.
“The challenges can be dwelling situations. How do you win in dwelling situations? Particularly each in these comparable venues like Delhi and in Bangalore—small grounds, high-scoring grounds, no actual dwelling benefit.
“So, they’re going to have to determine an answer for that as leaders. For me, I feel that will be one of many largest challenges that they’d face,” Uthappa mentioned.