Mustafizur Rahman leaves IPL 2024 midway with CSK's playoffs spot uncertain, writes special message for MS Dhoni after getting signed jersey

Bangladesh's left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman received a signed jersey from former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni as he left Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 midway to fulfill national duties. 
 

Mustafizur took to social media to share his photo with Dhoni posing with the signed jersey. He thanked Dhoni for keeping faith in him and helping him excel.
 

"Thanks for everything Mahi bhai. It was a special feeling to share the same dressing room with a legend like you. Thanks for keeping faith in me every time. Appreciating your valuable tips, I will remember those things. Looking forward to meeting and playing with you again soon," Mustafizur wrote in the captain.
 

Mustafizur got the NOC from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to play in the IPL 2024 till May 1. Earlier, his NOC was till April 30 but it was extended on the franchise’s request. He has not been named for the first three T20Is of the five-T20I series against Zimbabwe at home as part of workload management. 
 

“We had given Mustafizur a leave to play in the IPL till April 30, but since Chennai has a match on May 1, we have extended his leave by a day upon receiving a request from Chennai and the BCCI," said Shahriar Nafees, BCB's deputy manager of cricket operations.

 

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Mustafizur’s numbers in IPL 2024

Mustafizur turned out to be CSK's fast-bowling spearhead with 14 wickets in nine games including one four-fer. However, his economy rate of 9.26 was on the higher side. He made his CSK debut against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2024 opener and bagged his IPL career-best four wickets for 29 runs. He played the first match in the absence of Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana. 
 

He is also third in the race of purple cap. He is only behind Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) T Natarajan (15 wickets) and Mumbai Indians' (MI) Jasprit Bumrah (14 wickets). 
 

After the loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS) at home, CSK are placed fifth on the points table with five wins from 10 games. They will go up against PBKS again on May 5 in an attempt to get back to the winning ways. 
 

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