CSK Captain MS Dhoni Hints at Taking Time to Decide on IPL Future

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) played their last match of the 18th IPL season on Sunday, May 25. After failing to make it to the playoffs, the team played out the tournament in a bid to simply please their fans. They managed to do so by beating the table topping Gujarat Titans by 83 runs.

Final score:

• CSK — 230/5
• GT — 147.

MS Dhoni comment

After the match, all eyes were on CSK captain MS Dhoni. At 43 years old, the player’s future in the IPL remains uncertain. When asked about his plans for next season, the legendary cricketer did not give a direct answer. Instead, he mentioned that he has several months to make a decision and does not feel rushed to do so.

Balancing performance and fitness

Dhoni acknowledged the increasing effort required to maintain his fitness at the top level of cricket. He emphasized that while performance is important, it is not the only factor in his decision-making process. The cricketer believes that a player’s hunger, fitness, and contribution to the team are more crucial. Dhoni also mentioned that he would like to spend some time at home in Ranchi before making any decisions.

Season reflections

In IPL 2025, Dhoni had to step in as captain after Ruturaj Gaikwad was sidelined due to injury. He led CSK to three out of their four wins and six defeats in the season. The cricketer scored 196 runs in 13 innings.

What’s the status of CSK

For CSK, the season officially ended on May 25 with a victory over leading GT. It was just the team’s fourth win in the group stage of the 18th IPL season. In the off-season, it must strategically reflect on its failures and prepare for the next tournament as efficiently as possible. Considering the effect of Dhoni’s decision to continue or not to continue his career, these plans will have to be laid out.

CSK season:

• Wins: 4;
• Losses: 10;
• Points: 8;
• NRR: -0.647;
• Place in the table: 10 (out of 10).