Midway through IPL 2025, MS Dhoni took over the captaincy of Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Ahead of CSK’s final match of the season, Dhoni dropped a significant hint about his retirement, acknowledging that he is in the twilight of his career.
CSK is currently facing Gujarat Titans (GT) in their last IPL 2025 game at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, May 25th.
This could very well be Dhoni’s last stint as an IPL captain. He assumed leadership midway through the season after the regular skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, was sidelined with an elbow injury.
While MS Dhoni captaincy this season hasn’t translated into victories, he has focused on shaping the team for the future. Speculation about his IPL future has been rife, with many believing that this match against GT might mark the end of his playing days in the league.
During the toss for the GT vs CSK game, broadcaster Ravi Shastri didn’t directly ask MS Dhoni if it was his final season. Instead, he inquired about Dhoni’s fitness, to which MS Dhoni response subtly hinted at what lies ahead.
MS Dhoni Drops a Strong Retirement Hint, Calling It the Final Phase of His Career
MS Dhoni has openly acknowledged that his body demands significant care as he enters the twilight of his cricketing journey. Reflecting on the challenges of staying fit, especially with each IPL season posing new tests, he shared at Toss:
“My body is holding up, but every year brings a fresh challenge. It requires a lot of maintenance now. This is the last stage of my career. When I was playing international cricket, it didn’t trouble me as much.”
MS Dhoni also candidly admitted that the Chennai Super Kings stand to gain little from their upcoming clash against Gujarat Titans, as they are already locked in at the bottom of the IPL 2025 points table. He added:
“We’re at the bottom, and whether we win or lose, we’ll stay there. We just have to enjoy playing our cricket. There’s one change: Hooda comes in for Ashwin. Gujarat is a strong team, playing genuine cricket. We need to bowl tight lines, or their batsmen will take full advantage.”
The five-time IPL champions have endured a tough season so far, struggling across batting, bowling, and fielding, with just three wins to their name. Led by MS Dhoni, the team will be eager to finish on a positive note and come back stronger next year.