MS Dhoni remains optimistic about CSK's future after a dismal IPL 2022

IPL season came to an end with yet another defeat, there was a note of optimism in Mahendra Singh Dhoni's voice's as he looked forward to Chennai Super Kings' youngsters maturing into world class players in the coming years. Four-time champions CSK finished the season in ninth place, having suffered 10 defeats while managing to win only four times over the last couple of months, the last being a five-wicket defeat to Rajasthan Royals here on Friday. However, the spirited performance from the likes of Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana and Prashant Solanki ensured Dhoni leaves the season with the hope of a strong comeback next year.

"Whatever games they have got, they have learned a lot from it. One of the biggest examples is Mukesh. He has played all the games but what is impressive is to see from the first game to the last game how he has improved, how he can bowl at the death," Dhoni said at the presentation ceremony. "Still what he will do is go back and learn out of the outings he has got. That's what we really want from players. Once they have got that experience, what is important from next year once they turn up from IPL is that they don't start from scratch again. "That is what is needed from the youngsters and most of them have made the most of whatever chance they have got. Our Malinga (Pathirana), he's really good. It's difficult to pick him and I feel he will definitely contribute next year for us in a big way." CSK endured one of their worst IPL campaigns, as they went out of reckoning for a play-offs spot quite early in the season.

Most of CSK's senior players like Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa haven't had a great IPL and that has been the biggest failure of the 'Yellow Brigade'. The bowling