MS Dhoni may have dodged the retirement question once again, but he’s clear about one thing—Chennai Super Kings will be in a much better place next season. Speaking at a private event after CSK’s disappointing IPL 2025 campaign, the legendary captain gave fans a rare glimpse into the team’s internal assessments and plans for 2026.
A Season to Forget, But Not Without Lessons
CSK had a tough run in 2025, finishing at the bottom of the table with just 4 wins from 14 matches. Dhoni, who stepped in as captain midway through the season after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury, admitted the team’s batting struggled. He noted that Gaikwad’s absence hurt the team’s balance and that his return will be a big boost.
“We were slightly worried about our batting order. But I think it’s quite sorted now. Rutu will be coming back—he got injured, but he’ll be back. So, we’re quite sorted now,” Dhoni said.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Set for a Comeback
Gaikwad last played for CSK on April 8 against Punjab Kings. He was expected to feature in county cricket for Yorkshire but withdrew for personal reasons. Now, he’s been named in the West Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy—an encouraging sign that he’s ready for a return to competitive cricket.
Fixing the Gaps Before the Next Season
Dhoni also acknowledged that CSK had several areas that needed attention, particularly heading into the December mini-auction. While he stopped short of saying the team had slacked off, he admitted there were gaps that couldn’t be ignored.
“I won’t say we slacked off in IPL 2025, but there were certain holes we needed to plug. Some loopholes are there, and we’ll try to fix those in the auction.”
He stressed the need to reflect, learn, and grow from back-to-back poor seasons.
“The last couple of years have not been good for us. But what matters is understanding what went wrong. That’s something we asked ourselves last year too.”
Retirement Talk? Still No Clear Answer
As for his own future, Dhoni remained non-committal. At the end of the season, he had said he would assess how his body responds before making a decision. But now, with no update on that front, fans are still left wondering: will Dhoni play one more season, or was 2025 his quiet farewell?
For now, the only certainty is that Dhoni remains invested in CSK’s journey—whether from the dugout or the dressing room.
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