New Delhi: In a surprising change of stance, former India cricketer Yograj Singh has come out in strong support of MS Dhoni, urging the veteran to continue playing in the IPL while targeting those calling for his retirement.Ugraj, who has been a vocal critic of Dhoni in the past, struck a completely different tone ahead of IPL 2026. In an interview with InsideSport, he praised Dhoni’s longevity, discipline and commitment to the game, insisting that age should not be a factor in deciding a player’s future.Go beyond limits with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!“Absolutely. I admire him. He’s still playing. He should be playing 10 more years. Because he’s proven his fitness. Guy’s discipline, guy’s dedication. Dedication.” Ugraj spoke in uncharacteristic praise of the former Chennai Super Kings captain.He did not hold back even while addressing the critics. “Who will people ask him to retire? No,” he added, questioning the growing calls about Dhoni’s future.‘The age factor is so ridiculous’Ugraj also dismissed the debate surrounding Umar, calling it a misnomer in Indian cricket discourse. “No one will leave you when you’re performing. So this age thing you asked is pretty ridiculous in this country, right?” he said.Interestingly, he also referred to modern greats. Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli Speaking of myself. “Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli … young cricketers and they want to quit. They should really make the world feel ‘you are the best’,” he remarked.From critic to fanThe remarks mark a remarkable turnaround from Yograj, who had earlier blamed Dhoni for the premature end of his son Yuvraj Singh’s career. However, this time he separated personal opinion from the merit of cricket.“Being a great player, a great captain is different from being a great man…but as far as cricket is concerned, kudos to him,” he said.At the age of 44, Dhoni is one of the oldest players in the IPL set-up and has been garnering immense fan interest despite a lack of recent performances. While speculation about his retirement resurfaces every season, Ugraj’s strong support has added a new twist to the ongoing debate.
