Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season proved to be a challenging one both for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and their captain MS Dhoni, as they became the first team to be knocked out of the tournament this year. Beyond concerns surrounding the performances of certain players, there were also increasing discussions and speculations regarding MS Dhoni's role within the team. These discussions gained momentum as the season progressed, particularly after he was retained by the franchise as an uncapped player. Further complicating matters for CSK Ruturaj Gaikwad suffered an injury midway through the season. In response to this setback, the franchise made the decision to reinstate MS Dhoni as the team's captain. However, despite the captaincy transition, things didn't change a bit for CSK as they continued to lose games in the season.
Tom Moody feels MS Dhoni lacks spark now
Given the widespread speculation suggesting that this could potentially be MS Dhoni's final season with the CSK franchise, former Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Tom Moody has shared his perspective on the matter, bringing his insights into the ongoing discussion.
“Every team is a mirror of their leaders, and he is such a significant leader, and has been for so long. We all have a fire inside of us, and at times we need to recognize when that is starting to flicker, and if not, go out. I just don’t know whether what I am seeing is correct, but certainly my observation is that the spark is not there that I have seen in previous years,” former Australia cricketer Tom Moody told ESPN Cricinfo.
After their win against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), MS Dhoni himself addressed his IPL retirement talks. The legendary wicketkeeper said that he will work hard for another 6-8 months and see how his body is responding before making any decision.
“A lot of them don’t know when it is going to be my last time (smiles), so they want to come and see me play. There is no escaping the fact (that I am in the last phase of my career). After this IPL gets over, I have to work hard for another 6-8 months to see if my body can take this pressure. Nothing to decide now but the love and affection I have seen is excellent,” MS Dhoni had earlier said during the post-match presentation.
Chennai Super Kings had a horrendous campaign in the IPL 2025. Having played twelve matches, the five-time champions have only managed to secure wins in three encounters, while suffering defeats in the remaining nine. CSK, who are currently biting dust at the bottom of the table, will next take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) on May 20 before locking horns with Gujarat Titans on May 25.