Soon after profitable his fifth IPL title because the Chennai Super Kings captain, MS Dhoni selected to not go for the fairytale ending to his profession and vowed to return for "at least" yet one more season for the followers, if his physique allowed it.

Dhoni mentioned retiring after profitable the title could be the "best time," however he wished to "gift" his followers one other season even when it was "tough" to work on his physique for an additional 9 months to play once more.

"If you see circumstantially this is the best time for me to announce retirement," Dhoni mentioned on the presentation after the ultimate in opposition to Gujarat Titans. "But the amount of love and affection I've been shown wherever I've been this year, the easy thing for me would be to say, 'Thank you very much'. But the tough thing for me is to work hard for another nine months and come back and play at least one more season of IPL. But a lot depends on the body, I have six-seven months to decide and it will be more like a gift from my side [to the fans]. It's not easy for me but the way they've shown their love and affection, that's something I need to do for them.

"You do get emotional for a easy truth that it is the final a part of my profession and I believe it began over right here once I was enjoying the primary recreation [of IPL 2023]. I simply walked out and the complete home was chanting my title. My eyes full of [tears] and I simply stood there within the dugout for some time, and I took my time and I realised that I need to get pleasure from it and never take the stress. I believe it was the identical factor in Chennai, once I performed my final recreation there, however it is going to be good to come back again and play no matter I can."

When asked how he stayed grounded with so much love and fandom around him, Dhoni said: "I believe they love me for who I'm. Being grounded is one thing they like in me. Also the truth that the sort of cricket I play, everybody within the stadium feels they'll play that sort of cricket as a result of there's nothing orthodox about it. I really feel they'll relate to me greater than anybody else. But as I mentioned, I do not need to change myself or by no means wished to painting myself in a manner which I'm not. So I identical to to maintain it easy."

It was far from a perfect performance from CSK in the final. They dropped catches in the beginning, including one of the in-form Shubman Gill, missed run-outs, and conceded overthrows to see Titans post 214. After a rain break, CSK were set a revised target of 171 from 15 overs which they chased down with last-ball heroics from Ravindra Jadeja, who struck a straight six followed by a four on the last ball when they needed 10 to win from the last two balls.

"What's fascinating concerning the IPL is relating to the crunch recreation, that is the time you need your people to be prepared," Dhoni said. "I really feel that is one thing we've got achieved, however there have been lapses. We've not talked so much about at present's recreation however I do not suppose we began it the appropriate manner and thru the sport there have been lapses. But once more we got here again; when the bowling division did not do their work, it was the batting division that took their stress off."

Dhoni has been credited immensely this season for backing a number of youngsters such as Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube and Matheesha Pathirana while also bringing the best out of the older players such as Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali and Ambati Rayudu to give them a second coming. But did Dhoni also get frustrated when someone didn't perform their role to perfection?

"I do get annoyed, being human all of us get annoyed," he said, "however I attempt to step into their sneakers as to what actually occurred. The manner everybody handles stress is completely different, the quantity of stress each particular person can take care of is completely different. So it is essential to understand that and groom them in order that if you find yourself there they carry out, and whenever you're not there nonetheless they understand how they should carry out.

"Ajinkya is experienced and there some others too, so I don't worry a lot about them and I want them to take that responsibility. [I tell them] if they're confused, please come, ask whatever you want to but overall they have taken the responsibility today."

"The special thing about Rayudu is if he's on the field he'll give 100%," Dhoni mentioned. "The second thing is, with him in the team I will never win the Fairplay award because he reacts too quickly. But what I will remember him for is he always gives his 100%, he wants to contribute, he has been a fantastic cricketer right from [when] we played India A together. He's somebody who plays spin and fast bowlers equally well. I always felt that in this game he will do something special. I'm very happy for him. This is one game he'll remember for a very long time. He's also like me, doesn't use the phone a lot, but he had a fantastic career. What is important is to enjoy it and take it into the next phase of life."

Vishal Dikshit is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo