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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming put MS Dhoni's IPL retirement rumours to bed after their 25-run defeat against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Chepauk stadium on April 5. Despite the five-time champions falling short by 25 runs in front of their home crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Stephen Fleming made it clear that the legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni isn't retiring from IPL now and is still performing at a high level.
MS Dhoni is still going strong. I don't even ask these days: Stephen Fleming
The buzz around Dhoni's IPL retirement was rife with many fans thinking this IPL 2025 clash between CSK and DC might mark the end of an era. Adding to the anticipation, MS Dhoni's parents were present at an IPL game for the very first time, fueling speculation that the Indian icon might be ready to announce his retirement.
However, as the dust settled after the match, no such announcement came from the CSK camp, confirming that Dhoni will continue his journey with the Yellow Army in the T20 league. Following the game, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming faced questions about these swirling retirement rumors during the post-match press conference.
Breaking the silence from the team, the five-time IPL-winning coach addressed the speculation head-on. Fleming made it clear that the talk of Dhoni's retirement is premature, stating definitively that the veteran wicketkeeper-batter is still performing at a high level and has no immediate plans to step away from the game.
“No, that's not my role to put an end to it. I have no idea. I'm just enjoying working with him still. He's still going strong. I don't even ask these days. You are the ones who ask,” Fleming said in the post-match press conference.
Dhoni's recent batting performances for CSK have come under intense scrutiny, with many questioning his strike rate. During their chase of 184 against the Delhi Capitals, a lot was riding on Dhoni's shoulders when he walked out to bat with the team needing 110 runs in just over nine overs.
However, the partnership that followed between Dhoni and Vijay Shankar yielded only 84 runs from 56 deliveries. While Shankar remained unbeaten with a steady 69 off 54 balls, Dhoni's contribution of 30 runs from 26 balls drew criticism. Fans were hoping for a vintage Dhoni innings that could steer CSK to victory, but his strike rate of just 115.38 fell short of expectations, especially when compared to Shankar's 127.78.
The team's overall performance is also a cause for concern. With only one win in their first four matches, CSK currently find themselves at the bottom of the points table. A few more losses at this stage of the tournament could seriously jeopardize their chances of making it to the playoffs. Looking ahead, the five-time IPL champions will next face Punjab Kings in Chandigarh on April 8, followed by a home game against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 11, and another away fixture against Lucknow on April 14. Their highly anticipated clash against Mumbai Indians is scheduled for April 20 in an away game.
