Former West Indies star Chris Gayle has come out in strong support of MS Dhoni, saying the legendary cricketer adds immense value to the Indian Premier League (IPL). In a conversation with InsideSport, Gayle stressed that Dhoni's presence in the league is still crucial and that the IPL would lose some of its charm if the former India captain retires. “With Dhoni, he brings a lot of value to the IPL. You want to see him as long as possible and want him to stay. You don’t want to push him. When you start to hear that noise, people are going to send the wrong message to such a great player and a great person. You don’t want to send such a message to a guy like Dhoni because he brings so much value in IPL," Gayle said. Gayle further added that Dhoni’s impact on the league is unmatched, and his exit would affect the league’s overall appeal. “For someone who has won the championship so many times, if he goes from the IPL, it will take a little bit of drop. What he has done for his franchise is fantastic. Wherever CSK plays in India, it is all about the Whistle Podu. That is the power and that is what he brings to the IPL,” he added. Talking about Dhoni’s current form, Gayle praised the 42-year-old’s wicketkeeping skills and said that fans still love seeing him on the field, regardless of where he bats. “His wicketkeeping is still one of the best, he is still very sharp. It is about how he plays for the team and how they are going to use him. Everybody wants to see Dhoni. So, it doesn’t matter where he bats for me, even at number 11, as long as people get a glimpse of Dhoni, still to be a part of CSK and the IPL,” Gayle said. Gayle rates Indian Players Gayle also gave his ratings for some of India’s top and upcoming cricketers. He awarded 9 out of 10 to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav, while KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant received a solid 8. Also Read: International captain arrested over drugs: Reports He rated Hardik Pandya and Ruturaj Gaikwad slightly lower, giving them a 7. He also praised Abhishek Sharma, calling him “super talented” and giving him an 8. “Ruturaj Gaikwad – 7. Yashasvi Jaiswal – I won’t give him maximum but 9. Shubman Gill – these guys are youngsters so not giving them maximum, they are phenomenal players, will give him a 9 too. Abhishek Sharma. Super talented guy, I am going to give him 8. KL Rahul – 8. Suryakumar Yadav – 9. Hardik Pandya – 7. Shreyas Iyer – 8. Rishabh Pant – 8,” Chris Gayle said on Inside Sports.