World Cup Champion Urges MS Dhoni to Retire as CSK Faces Historic IPL Low

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) suffered a crushing defeat against Rajasthan Royals at Arun Jaitley Stadium, cementing their position at the bottom of the IPL 2025 points table. The loss, which all but ensures CSK will finish last this season, saw MS Dhoni dismissed for 16 runs off 17 balls after a remarkable catch by Tushar Deshpande at short fine leg. Dhoni, attempting a powerful paddle shot off a low full toss, could only muster a wry smile as he returned to the dressing room.

Krishnamachari Srikkanth, a former Indian cricketer and 1983 World Cup winner, has publicly called for Dhoni to consider stepping away from the Indian Premier League. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth highlighted Dhoni’s visible struggles, noting that the 43-year-old, who turns 44 in July, is showing signs of declining fitness and reflexes. Dhoni took over as CSK captain mid-season after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s elbow injury sidelined him, but the team has failed to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Srikkanth emphasized that Dhoni’s inability to perform consistently is impacting the team, urging him to acknowledge his limitations and make way for new talent.

CSK’s campaign has been marked by inconsistency, with the team now facing the prospect of their worst-ever IPL finish.