After Chennai Super Kings’ final league match against Gujarat Titans, MS Dhoni gave a clear but calm message about his future in the IPL. Speaking to the media, the 43-year-old said he hasn’t made a decision yet and still has 4–5 months to think about it.
“I won’t say I won’t play, but I also won’t confirm that I will. There’s enough time to decide,” said Dhoni, who plans to return to Ranchi and enjoy some bike rides for now.
Even though he’s nearing 44, Dhoni emphasized that age and recent performance won’t decide his retirement. “This is professional cricket. Just because you don’t play well once doesn’t mean you quit. It’s about your fitness, passion, and how much you can give to the team,” he explained.
Dhoni also warned against retiring based on form alone, saying if that were the case, many young players would quit by the age of 22 or 23.
CSK had a disappointing season this year. Despite finishing with a strong win against Gujarat, scoring 231 runs and bowling them out for 147, Chennai lost 10 of their 14 matches and ended up at the bottom of the table—their worst finish ever. They were also the first team to be eliminated from the playoff race.
After the match in Ahmedabad, fans filled the stadium with “Dhoni, Dhoni” chants, thinking it might be his last IPL game.
Dhoni, who came back as captain mid-season after Ruturaj Gaikwad got injured, hasn’t ruled anything out. But one thing is sure—MS Dhoni is still not done.
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