The Chennai Super Kings have won the IPL 2023 title. In a rain-curtailed final, CSK defeated defending champions Gujarat by five wickets using the Duckworth-Lewis method. Mahendra Singh Dhoni talked about retirement in the presentation ceremony after the match. He said that the way the fans have shown love, he wants to gift them by playing the next season.

After the match, Dhoni told the host - You are looking for answers about my retirement? Given the situation, this is the best time to announce my retirement. But wherever I've been this year, it would be easy to say thank you so much for all the love and affection the fans have shown me. However, the most difficult thing for me will be to work hard for the next nine months and then come back and play at least one more season of IPL.

Dhoni said - a lot depends on the body. I have 6-7 months to decide. It will be like a gift from my side. It is not easy for me, but it is a gift for the fans. The way he has shown his love and affection, I feel that I should do something for him. You get emotional just because this is the last part of my career.

Dhoni said- everything started from here. When I came on the ground in the first match, all the fans were shouting my name. Then my eyes filled with water and I stood there in the dugout for some time. I realized that I want to enjoy it. It was the same feeling in Chennai, it was my last match there, but I want to come back and do whatever I can for them (fans) and play. They love me for who I am. The kind of cricket I play, I think everyone in the stadium thinks they can play that way because there is nothing orthodox about it. So I think they can relate to me more than anyone else. I don't want to change myself, I've never wanted to present myself as someone I'm not. I keep it simple.

Dhoni said- Every trophy is special, but the special thing about IPL is that you need to be ready for every crunch game. This we have done. There were a few lapses today, the bowling department didn't do the job, but it was the batting department that took the pressure off them today. I get angry too. It's human, but I try to put myself in their position. Everyone deals with pressure differently. Ajinkya and a few other players are experienced, so you don't think too much about them.

Dhoni also praised Ambati Rayudu, who played his last IPL match. He said- The special thing about Rayudu is that when he is on the field, he always gives his 100 percent. But having him in the team will never win me the Fairplay award. They always want to contribute in some way or the other. He has been a brilliant cricketer throughout his career. I have been playing with him for a long time since the India A tour. He is the kind of player who can play both spin and fast bowler equally well. This is really something special. I thought he would do something really special. I am very happy for them. This match is one that he will always remember. He is also like me and one of those people who do not use phone much. The important thing is that he has had a wonderful career and I hope he enjoys the next phase of his life.

The match against Gujarat was Dhoni's 250th match in the IPL. In this league, he has scored 5082 runs in 250 matches at an average of 38.79 and a strike rate of 135.92. This includes 24 fifties. In IPL 2023, Dhoni scored 104 runs in 16 matches at an average of 26 and a strike rate of 182.45. Dhoni's captaincy

CSK has won five titles. Dhoni equaled Rohit in terms of captains winning the most IPL trophies. Mumbai has won five trophies under Rohit's captaincy. This was CSK's 10th final under Dhoni's captaincy.