Chennai: MS Dhoni is a name that resonates far beyond cricket. He is more than a captain, wicketkeeper, or finisher—he’s a symbol of calm under pressure and an architect of India’s golden era in cricket. As of IPL 2025, though, the silence of his bat and CSK’s declining graph have reopened a long-simmering debate: should Dhoni have retired on a high after the 2023 title, rather than dragging through a dismal campaign in 2025?
In 2023, Dhoni led the Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL crown, equaling the Mumbai Indians’ record. At 41, the win was emotional, even cinematic. Fans chanted his name in stadiums across India, not just in Chennai. With a knee injury, reduced batting time, and tactical masterstrokes behind the scenes, Dhoni looked ready to sign off with a fairytale ending. “You can’t ask for a better script,” said Harsha Bhogle after CSK’s 2023 triumph. Yet, Dhoni didn’t walk into the sunset. He promised to return in 2024 “for the fans.” In 2024, CSK couldn’t make it to the final, but Dhoni still showed glimpses of brilliance, playing cameos and managing games with icy calm. But 2025 has not been kind.
As of May 1, 2025, CSK became the first team to be eliminated from the playoff race with just two wins in ten matches. The team looked sluggish, aging, and out of ideas. Ruturaj Gaikwad, now captain, struggled under pressure, while Conway's absence due to injury compounded their problems. Dhoni’s own appearances have been limited to the last few overs, where he tries to finish games but often walks back silently. The roar remains, but the results don’t.
What makes this season sting more is how it contrasts with the aura Dhoni built over two decades. His international career boasts 10,773 ODI runs, 229 sixes in ODIs, a strike rate of over 126 in T20Is, and 294 dismissals as a keeper in ODIs. He remains the only captain to win all ICC white-ball trophies. But the IPL, where he redefined franchise cricket, was perhaps the most consistent chapter in his career. Over 5,000 IPL runs, most appearances as captain, and five titles later, his impact is unquestionable.
Still, time waits for no one. In a rare interview during this season, Dhoni said, “I want to enjoy cricket like I did as a child. I play because I love it. When I feel I’m not helping the team, I’ll walk away.” Noble words, but sport is also spectacle. Fans remember final acts vividly. For every Tendulkar who bowed out as a champion in 2013, there’s a Kapil Dev who limped to retirement in 1994.
Retirement is personal. Dhoni owes no one a timeline. Yet, as CSK sink in 2025, the optics aren’t ideal. The man who once redefined finishing has been reduced to firefighting. The master tactician’s plans have fallen short, and the loyal yellow brigade seems stuck in transition. Sometimes, greatness isn’t about fighting one more season—it’s about knowing when the job is done.
Dhoni’s greatness is untouched. But a champion deserves a champion’s exit. In 2023, he had that moment in his grasp. Now, as 2025 unfolds, the question isn't about what he’s done—it’s about whether he stayed a season too long. And for millions of fans who worship the man, that question hurts more than any defeat
