CSK Out of IPL 2025 – Is This the Final Curtain Call for MS Dhoni?
When the Lion Walked Away… Silently
You ever watched a movie that you didn’t want to end… but it did anyway?
That’s what it felt like watching CSK lose to Punjab Kings in Dharamsala — and watching MS Dhoni, possibly for the last time, walk back to the dugout. No dramatic sendoff. No waving to the crowd. Just a quiet walk, head slightly down, bat tucked under the arm.
And just like that… Thala might have played his last IPL match.
The Night It All Slipped Away
Let’s rewind to April 30th. CSK vs PBKS — a do-or-die game. CSK, clinging to slim playoff hopes, needed to win.
But Punjab had other ideas. Jonny Bairstow went berserk with a 46-ball 76. The Kings chased down CSK’s modest total with ease, sending the Men in Yellow out of the tournament.
And Dhoni? He walked in to bat at No. 8. I mean, seriously? With the season (possibly career) on the line?
He hit a six. A boundary. Scored 14 off 11. But… it didn’t matter.
The scoreboard didn't lie. The dream was over.
A 43-Year-Old Legend Still Writing His Own Script
Here’s the thing: MS Dhoni is 43. That’s not young for elite-level cricket.
But every time he took the field this season, you could feel the crowd’s pulse change. It was like watching Sachin in 2013 — you just knew it was special. Rare. Final.
He didn’t play every match. His knees looked sore. He walked slower. But when he hit a no-look six? Oh man, we believed again.
Dhoni didn’t return in 2025 to prove anything. He’s got nothing left to prove. This was love. For the game. For Chennai. For us.
What Went Wrong for CSK This Season?
Honestly? A lot.
Here's where things crumbled:
- Injuries galore: Key players like Deepak Chahar and Pathirana missed crucial games.
- Captaincy shift: Ruturaj Gaikwad is talented, no doubt. But filling Dhoni's shoes mid-season? That’s Everest-level pressure.
- Inconsistent batting: Apart from Dube and Ruturaj, the middle order barely clicked.
- Tactical missteps: Like holding Dhoni back till No. 8. That one hurt.
This wasn’t the invincible CSK we’re used to. This was a team searching for rhythm, identity, and maybe, a future beyond Dhoni.
If This Is the End… It’s So Dhoni
Think about it.
No farewell speech. No retirement post. No press conference.
Just a man walking back to the dugout with a soft smile, letting the crowd soak it all in.
That's vintage Dhoni — always letting the game do the talking.
And honestly, maybe that’s the kind of goodbye he wanted. Quiet. Private. On his own terms.
So, What’s Next for CSK After Dhoni?
This is where things get real.
With Dhoni likely stepping away (even if he doesn’t say it), CSK has to rebuild. And not just tactically — emotionally too.
Here’s what they might consider:
- New leadership: Ruturaj Gaikwad could be the long-term choice, but will CSK explore overseas captaincy options?
- Fresh auction strategy: Expect CSK to go aggressive in IPL 2026 with a younger, bolder squad.
- Dhoni as mentor/coach? A dugout role feels inevitable, right?
One era ends. Another begins. That’s cricket. That’s life.
