MS Dhoni is nearing the end of his journey in Indian Premier League (IPL), but he still knows how to keep fans and critics guessing. After Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) final league game of IPL 2025 against Gujarat Titans (GT), Dhoni gave a tongue-in-cheek reply to the retirement talk.
The comment, made in jest, came during the post-match presentation following CSK’s thumping 83-run win over GT. Despite the victory, CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs and finished at the bottom of the points table for the first time in the IPL history.
When asked about his future and whether IPL 2025 would be his swansong, MS Dhoni did not provide a definitive answer. Instead, he took a subtle dig at critics, who questioned his place in the team this season.
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MS Dhoni’s 'Retire at 22' Jab Adds Twist to IPL Farewell Speculation
After CSK’s one-sided victory over GT on Sunday, cameras panned at Dhoni as many expected him to announce his IPL retirement following a dismal season.
As fans bated with bated breath, Dhoni, in his usual self, did not spill much. He did not confirm his retirement, nor did he deny it. However, he threw a subtle jab at his critics, stating that cricketers would start retiring at the age of 22 only if they are asked to retire on the basis of performance.
"It's good. I won't say it was houseful today. We didn't have a good season, it was one of those perfect performances. We haven't caught very well, but the catching was good today. It depends. I have 4-5 months to decide, there's no hurry. Need to keep the body fit. You have to be at your best. If cricketers start retiring for their performance, some of them will retire at 22," Dhoni said as quoted in the post-match presser.
As Dhoni informed, he still has not made up his mind and will take a call in months to come.
"Will go back to Ranchi, enjoy a few bike rides. I am not saying I am done, not saying I am coming back either. I have the luxury of timing. Will think about it and then decide. When we started the season, the four games were in Chennai. We decided to bat second, but I felt the wicket was good for batting in the first innings. I was worried about the batting department."
For a player who has mastered the art of saying everything and nothing at the same time, it was vintage Dhoni.
A Season to Forget for CSK
Despite ending their campaign with a win, CSK took home the wooden spoon, their first in the IPL. They could only manage four wins after 14 matches and did not make the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
For Dhoni, it was an average season with the bat. He showed glimpses of his six-hitting but could not do it on a consistent basis. He scored 196 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24.50 and a strike-rate of 135.17.
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