Chennai Super Kings Face Frustrating Defeat: Calls for MS Dhoni's Retirement Intensify

The Chennai Super Kings continue to struggle in IPL 2025, suffering their tenth defeat against the Rajasthan Royals. This has led to growing calls from fans for MS Dhoni to retire, citing his declining performance and tactical decisions. As the season nears its end, discussions about Dhoni's future in the league intensify, leaving fans eager for clarity on whether this will be his final season. With CSK's poor performance, the focus remains on rebuilding the team and the potential for new talent to emerge.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 21, 2025, 11:28 IST

Chennai Super Kings' Struggles Continue

The Chennai Super Kings are having a dismal IPL 2025 season, suffering their tenth defeat against the Rajasthan Royals, which has left fans feeling frustrated and angry. The legendary wicketkeeper-batter and captain, MS Dhoni, is at the center of this storm.

Having been the first team eliminated from the tournament, the five-time IPL champions are now playing merely for pride. However, their performances have been lackluster. In their recent match on Tuesday, CSK lost to RR by six wickets at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. After scoring 187 runs for 8 wickets, they could not defend their total as the Royals successfully chased down the target of 188 runs in just 17.1 overs.

Rajasthan Royals' Stellar Performance

Vaibhav Suryavanshi shone for the Royals, scoring an impressive 57 runs off 33 balls at a strike rate of 172.73. He formed a vital 98-run partnership for the second wicket with Sanju Samson, who contributed 41 runs off 31 balls. Other key contributions came from Yashasvi Jaiswal (36 runs) and Dhruv Jurel (31 not out). Jurel sealed the victory with a six when the Royals needed just six runs from 18 balls.

Fans Demand MS Dhoni's Retirement

Following yet another defeat, fans took to social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), to express their disappointment with CSK's performance. Many are calling for MS Dhoni to retire, citing his declining form and tactical decisions as reasons for the team's struggles.

Fans have urged Dhoni to step down, arguing that his continued presence is hindering the development of younger talent. Comments such as 'Please retire, Dhoni bhai' and 'It's time to go, king' reflect the sentiments of many supporters.

MS Dhoni's Leadership Amidst Challenges

MS Dhoni stepped in as captain after Ruturaj Gaikwad was sidelined due to an elbow injury sustained during a match against the Rajasthan Royals. Despite Dhoni's return, CSK's fortunes did not improve, as they lost six out of eight matches under his leadership. With only three wins and ten losses, CSK is likely to end the season at the bottom of the points table, matching their poor performance in 2022.

As the season nears its end, discussions about Dhoni's future in the IPL are heating up. After CSK's elimination last season, there were speculations about his retirement, but the franchise retained him for INR 4 crore as an uncapped player. With the final league match against Gujarat Titans approaching, fans are eager to know if this will be Dhoni's last season.

Uncertainty Surrounds Dhoni's Future

MS Dhoni has always kept his future plans under wraps, and even the CSK management is uncertain about his intentions beyond this season. He has neither confirmed nor denied whether IPL 2025 will be his final season.

In the current IPL season, Dhoni has scored 196 runs at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 135.17 across 13 matches.

Conclusion

As the Chennai Super Kings face a challenging season, the spotlight remains on MS Dhoni, with fans eagerly awaiting his decision regarding retirement.