IPL: Matthew Hayden believes MS Dhoni has played his last game for CSK

Former Australian legend Matthew Hayden believes that charismatic wicketkeeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni has played his last match in the IPL but he will remain associated with Chennai Super Kings in some role. CSK's journey in this IPL ended after losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their last league match on Friday.

In this match, Dhoni played a brilliant inning of 25 runs in 13 balls but it was not enough to take the team to the playoffs. Chasing 219 runs to win, CSK needed 201 runs to reach the final, but the team could only score 191 runs for seven wickets.

The team needed 17 runs in the last over to reach the playoffs. Dhoni had kept Chennai's hopes alive by hitting the season's longest six of 110 meters off Yash Dayal but he was out on the next ball. After this the team could score only one run in four balls.

Dhoni scored 161 runs in the current season at an excellent strike rate of 220.55 and an average of 53.67. Former opener Hayden, who played in the IPL for Chennai, said that he would be surprised if Dhoni is not a part or mentor of CSK in the next season.

Hayden said on 'Star Sports' program 'Cricket Live', 'I think Dhoni has played his last match. It is not that we are seeing Dhoni for the last time in IPL. I would be very surprised if he does not guide or become a part of the CSK family. He said, 'When you are watching someone's career end, you do not want that player to get a farewell with failure.'

Hayden, who has played under Dhoni's captaincy, said, 'As a captain, he is the 'Thala' of Chennai Super Kings. He uses his brain and all his knowledge of cricket brilliantly.'

In the same program, Indian team player Ambati Rayudu expressed hope that Dhoni will continue playing in the upcoming season. He said, 'I don't think this was his last match. I can't see him ending his career like this.'

Rayudu, who was a part of the IPL-winning team under the leadership of Dhoni, said, 'He looked very disappointed when he got out. This was not Dhoni's style. He would like to qualify and say goodbye to his career at the top.'

He expressed hope that the impact player rule will remain intact, which will make it easier for Dhoni to remain a part of the team. Rayudu said, 'You cannot guess anything about Dhoni, he can make a comeback again next year. Due to the impact player rule, he may get a chance to bat in the last few overs. BCCI should maintain this rule because we want to see Dhoni playing. Now the ball is in BCCI's court whether we will be able to see Dhoni play or not.'