Let’s be honest here, when MS Dhoni makes his way onto the field, we all have a little extra anxiety. Not just because of the helicopter shot he might hit or his cool-as-a-cucumber approach behind the stumps, but for the unknown: is this his last IPL season? After CSK’s win against KKR earlier this week, Dhoni finally addressed the concerns, kind of. His greatest quote If we read between the lines (and watch some sixes one more time), it is a lot to unpack. So, let’s take a look back at what took place in the match, what is up with Dhoni, and why we may or may not be seeing this icon’s final innings.
Sixes, Statements, and Staying Relevant
Urvil Patel may have stolen the headlines with his 11-ball 32 (with 4 massive sixes), but let’s not forget who has been the gold standard of finishing games, Dhoni! He may not have taken the headlines this game with the bat at 43, but the aura was still as present as ever.
What has struck me about this game-or rather, this season-is Dhoni’s legitimacy. He is not just nostalgic at this point, he is delivering in the games he plays! Just to put it into context, he has a season strike rate of over 220 – the best rate of his IPL career! At the young age of 43, this is not just impressive, it is frankly ludicrous. Certainly, with not a whole lot of balls faced, Dhoni has had a few phenomenal games.
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Captaincy Carousel: Back in the Saddle
Dhoni is not just wearing the captain’s armband for sentimental reasons — he is fully in charge. In what has been a season of inconsistency and mid-table madness, Dhoni’s steady hand has kept the team stable and relevant.
Right from the difficult times, i.e., the awful collapse against KKR, the team was still looking towards him. Whether it is a smart bowling change or moving a fielder within millimetres, Dhoni is still following the game as if it were a chess game. And the fans? They were all in. Dhoni! Dhoni! was echoing around the ground, whether he was hitting sixes or just moving a fielder two spaces to the right.
The best part is he didn’t even take the bat out in this match — yet he was still the story. That is the presence only Dhoni has.
Retirement Talk: Reading the Room
So, what to make of that vague one-liner: Nothing for me to decide as of now?
A dodge, a delay, or perhaps a dead end on the retirement speculation?
Well, if you spotted him wearing a T-shirt with One Last Time in Morse Code printed on it earlier in the season, then you would think the writing was literally to the wall (or his chest).
He has said that he wants to enjoy the experience of playing cricket like a child again. That doesn’t sound like someone who is simply counting down the days, weeks, or months. It sounds like someone who is playing for himself, which has always been his way. Who knows, perhaps this is going to be his last dance. Or perhaps it is just one of his endless mind games to keep us all on our toes! At this stage of his career — again, who cares? He is playing and enjoying it — and so are we!
So now what? Will Dhoni finally retire after IPL 2025? Or is this just another season of the legend that officially is never-ending? We don’t know, and maybe that is where the magic lies.
What do you think is Dhoni hinting at the end of the story, or just prolonging the suspense for a few more years? What do you think?
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