The retirement saga of MS Dhoni from the IPL continues to keep fans guessing, but according to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) management, their revered captain, fondly known as 'Thala' by the fans, is likely to grace the field for yet another season.

Kasi Viswanathan, the CEO of the CSK franchise, shared his belief with Cricbuzz after the team's game against the Kolkata Knight Riders, which technically marked their last home game of the season. "That is my guess, hunch," Viswanathan stated. "He has not told us either way, but the way he played and led the side, I personally think he will play next year as well."

Known for his knack of surprising fans with his retirement decisions, Dhoni announced his superannuation from Test cricket in the midst of a series in Australia back in 2014, catching everyone off guard, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials and his teammates on tour.

After keeping fans in suspense for a considerable period, Dhoni bid adieu to international cricket on a fine August evening in 2020. Notably, he strategically chose the timing of the announcement at 7:29 PM, coinciding with the sunset time of that day, which happened to be August 15. Later, he shared with friends that there was no better day than Independence Day to bid farewell to international cricket.

Dhoni had previously expressed his intention to play his last IPL match in Chennai. Although CSK recently played their last home game upon their return to Chennai after a three-year hiatus, there remains a chance for them to grace the Chepauk stadium once again. With the stadium set to host two playoff matches, CSK technically has another opportunity to perform on their home ground.

Having accumulated 15 points from 13 games, CSK stands a chance to qualify for the playoffs, unless there are unexpected twists in the final round of league matches. Their last game is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Delhi. In a gesture of gratitude towards their loyal fans, the CSK players took a lap of honor around Chepauk on Sunday night.