MS Dhoni in action for Chennai Super Kings© AFP
This was another shameful performance of MS Dhoni till now as he failed to complete the run chase for Chennai Super Kings during his IPL 2025 encounter against Delhi Capital on Sunday. Although he scored an unbeaten 30 in 26 delivery, it was not enough to get the match for his side. During his stay at the crease, Dhoni closed his first border on the 19th ball of his innings – six with Mukesh Kumar. This slowest has been taken by any batsman to hit a border this season. Dhoni held a partnership with Vijay Shankar together, but the pair never saw the control of the match as they slipped to a loss.
Chennai’s Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming said that MS Dhoni is “still getting stronger” and the end of the former skipper’s run in the IPL is not the role assigned to him.
Dhoni’s parents – PAN Singh and Devaki Devi’s presence – On Saturday, there was speculation about his retirement in Chepuk for the CSK match against Delhi Capital.
“No, it’s not my role to end. I don’t know. I am just enjoying working with him. He is still getting strong. I don’t even ask these days. You are the ones who ask (about retirement),” Flaming said at the post -match press conference.
The decision to send Dhoni to number 9 attracted heavy criticism, but went to the legendary cricketer number 7 on Saturday, but struggled to achieve any speed during his 26 balls as CSK lost the match by 25 runs, his third direct defeat.
Fleming did not see Dhoni coming as a loss of damage in the 11th over and said that batting at that level was really difficult.
“The intention was there. When he went out, I think the ball started catching a little more. We understood that it would be good for the first half and then slowly slowed down. So, we were willing to bat and then were keen to coordinate with the ball.
“He did this really good. Vijay Shankar struggled to get time in all ways through his innings. But the duration of 12 to 16 overs was difficult for everyone. It was difficult to see and certainly it was difficult to get out of there. So the game was simply slipping, and even with intentions and different methods, it was very large,” Fleming said.
(With PTI input)
Subjects mentioned in this article
