Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are having a rough ride in IPL 2025, and their latest loss has tongues wagging about MS Dhoni’s future. The team crashed to an eight-wicket defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, marking their fifth straight loss this season. It was a tough night for CSK, and former India batter Mohammad Kaif didn’t hold back, hinting this could be Dhoni’s last dance as a player.
Dhoni, back as captain after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s elbow injury sidelined him for the season, couldn’t turn the tide. KKR chased down CSK’s modest total with ease, leaving fans stunned and critics buzzing. Kaif took to X, stirring the pot with some big questions. “Is this Dhoni’s last season?” he posted. “CSK’s season is crumbling—time for a change?” He also slammed the team’s tactics, wondering why CSK prepared a slow pitch at home against KKR’s deadly spinners like Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy.
Is this Dhoni's last season? The way CSK's season is going, is the time right for a change? Last question: Why give a slow pitch at home when the rivals have spinners like Naraine and Varun?
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 11, 2025
On the field, CSK’s batting flopped. Dhoni admitted they struggled to build partnerships and make the most of the powerplay. “We didn’t have enough runs on the board,” he said after the match. “We lost too many wickets, and with quality spinners, it’s tough without partnerships.” He urged his team to stick to their strengths, play smart shots, and avoid chasing unrealistic totals. “If we start swinging for 60 runs with our lineup, it’ll be a mess,” he added.
This defeat was CSK’s worst in terms of balls remaining, and it’s the first time they’ve dropped five games in a row in a single IPL season. Fans are feeling the heat, and Kaif’s comments have only fueled the chatter about whether the 43-year-old legend is nearing the end of his storied career.
Dhoni stayed calm, as always, focusing on the need to adapt to conditions and back the team’s strengths. “Our openers are solid—they play proper cricket shots, not wild slogs,” he said. “We’ve got to build partnerships, maybe cash in later, and if wickets fall, the middle order has to step up.”
With CSK’s season spiraling, all eyes are on Dhoni. Will he rally his team for one more fight, or is this the curtain call for one of cricket’s biggest icons? Only time will tell, but the buzz around Chennai is louder than ever.
Read Also: ‘Why Not Try Prithvi Shaw?’: Srikkanth’s Bold Advice to Dhoni’s CSK After Humiliating Loss
