'Everyone's Always Trying to Retire Dhoni, He's Going Nowhere': Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo retired from international cricket during the T20 World Cup last month, but the 38-year-old still has a few years of franchise cricket ahead of him as he gets ready for yet another IPL auction this winter.

After spending 11 years with the Chennai Super Kings, Bravo was released last week as they retained Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali, with the auction rules permitting a maximum of four retentions.

Having won three IPL titles in the Chennai yellow, Bravo told The Quint he wanted to give back to the team and his home country, whenever he decided to retire from the sport. He was speaking at the launch of his entrepreneurial debut with the 'Djb47' fashion label.

You've been associated with Chennai Super Kings for a while now. We know how fiercely loyal they are to their players. With MS Dhoni most likely playing his last season, is it important for you to be back in yellow?

He is far from his last season. This will not be his last season. Everyone’s been trying to retire MS Dhoni for the longest time, but he is here to stay. He’s not going anywhere.

For me, Chennai Super Kings and DJ Bravo has a bond that no one can sever, and of course, I will love to finish there. But I don’t have control over those things, because when you’re in an auction, anyone has the opportunity to pick you.

I can safely say that whenever I do fully retire from cricket, I will want to give back to West Indies and the Chennai Super Kings.

Could you tell us something else about your time with MS Dhoni, and your relationship with him?

Exactly what you see on the field is what he is off the field. He is very quiet and he is in his room most of the time playing games. His room is always open to anyone who wants to talk. He is a very reserved person, but he likes playing his video games in his own space.

If you want to see him, you go to his room and talk to him. You will not see him by the pool or the restaurant or the gym. He doesn’t really care about what's going on around him, but he is very approachable, and a very simple guy.

CSK staged an amazing comeback this season after the below-par outing you had last year. You all were called the ‘Dad’s Army’, but in a way, is that what also helped, with life in a bio-bubble now? You have your wives and kids around, so it’s like a family on the road.

Chennai Super Kings is always a family, with the bubble or without it. We have always been a family, long before COVID-19. My 11 years with them have been tremendous.

The ‘Dad’s Army’ talk is funny, I guess. What do they call us now – the champions army?

But yes, CSK is a special franchise and whatever we have done will go down in history. I am happy I am part of that history and legacy. We want to press on.

Any players you'd say would 'break the bank' at the IPL auction?

Maybe KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan. Yes, I think the Indian guys will do well.

The auction is still a while away. So let's talk about your new venture. You are now an entrepreneur with your new clothing line. Tell us something about it?

We started off with T-shirts and hoodies – some long-sleeve and short-sleeve ones. I'm involved in the designing also. Everything is going to be based on my personal touch and style. The colours and the designs will be personalised by me.