I am not saying I am performed, not saying I am coming again: Dhoni on IPL future

Chennai Super Kings’ captain M.S. Dhoni throughout an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 T20 match. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

True to his inimitable model, Mahendra Singh Dhoni stored the world guessing on his IPL future, saying he’ll now get pleasure from his bike rides in Ranchi and can take his personal candy time to resolve whether or not he’ll come again subsequent season.

Chennai Super Kings’ strange season gave fodder to speculations that the facet could go in for a whole overhaul within the coming season and the enduring Dhoni will not be round whilst a batter. “It depends. I have 4-5 months to decide, there’s no hurry. Need to keep my body fit. You have to be at your best,” Dhoni mentioned after CSK’s large 83-run win over Gujarat Titans.

The 43-year-old dropped himself within the batting order, attending to hit only some balls and will not make the specified influence this season.

So, a query about his future was inevitable after the crew’s final league recreation right here. Dhoni mentioned lack of efficiency can by no means be his motive for taking the retirement determination. “If cricketers start retiring for their performance, some of them will retire at 22. I will go back to Ranchi, enjoy a few bike rides. I am not saying I am done, not saying I am coming back. I have the luxury of timing. Will think about it and then decide,” he mentioned.

Dhoni hoped that CSK would have a very good season subsequent yr when Ruturaj Gaikwad returns from his damage and joked that solely his skipper’s age makes him look outdated. “Ruturaj doesn’t need to worry about too many things next season. He will fit into one of those roles. You feel old. He is exactly 25 years younger than me, that makes me feel I am old,” he mentioned.

Talking concerning the forgettable 2025 IPL season, Dhoni admitted that batting allow them to down. “We didn’t have a good season; it was one of those perfect performances (vs GT). We haven’t caught very well, but the catching was good today. 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. We can put runs on the board, but a few holes to fill.” GT skipper Shubman Gill, who has been given the reins of India’s Test facet, mentioned they misplaced the sport within the energy play, dropping three wickets.

“We never really came back. Chasing 230 is always a tricky target. Teams already eliminated have nothing to lose and they come out all guns blazing. We weren’t able to stay calm under pressure, and I think we gave in to pressure.

“It’s very important to control runs in the middle overs. If you are not going to do that it’s going to be challenging. That’s where we were lacking in the last two games.”

Talking concerning the temper within the dressing room, Gill mentioned it is going to be arduous to digest a defeat. “This one would be a hard pill to swallow for us. The bright side is that we have two or three games left, so the boys will be motivated to play in Mohali. “Fortunately for me, going back to my hometown… I played a lot of cricket there and it’s going to be really exciting,” he mentioned.