IPL 2025: Dhoni's Finishing Skills Falter, Faces Social Media Backlash

Mumbai, April 5 (NationPress) Fans eagerly anticipated the spectacular sixes, helicopter shots, and remarkable boundary hits from Mahendra Singh Dhoni. However, those moments were absent on Saturday as Chennai Super Kings faced another defeat at their home ground.

The anticipation lingered, but MS Dhoni had a quiet day at the crease, returning to the dug-out as social media erupted in disbelief, witnessing the legend's slow decline.

Regarded as one of the finest finishers in white-ball cricket for years, Dhoni couldn’t steer Chennai Super Kings to victory against Delhi Capitals in Match 17 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 held at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.

Dhoni concluded with an unbeaten 30 off 26 deliveries as CSK fell short by 25 runs, finishing at 158/5 from 20 overs, while Vijay Shankar remained not out at 69.

Chasing a target of 184, Dhoni entered the batting order at 74/5 during the 11th over after Ravindra Jadeja was dismissed, lbw to fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav. With nearly nine overs remaining and 110 runs still required, the stage seemed set for Thala to step up and lead the team to a memorable win, reminiscent of his last-ball six in the 2011 World Cup final at Wankhede.

However, on Saturday, the 43-year-old Dhoni couldn’t recreate that old magic and appeared as a mere shadow of his former self, struggling to score as CSK suffered a 25-run defeat, marking their first loss to the Delhi franchise at Chepauk in 15 years.

Dhoni partnered with Vijay Shankar for an 84-run stand, the highest 6th wicket partnership for CSK in IPL history, surpassing the previous record of 73 held by Hussey and S Badrinath, but it ultimately wasn’t enough.

Despite Dhoni's efforts, he couldn't provide the necessary momentum towards the end, being restrained by Mukesh Kumar and Mitchell Starc as CSK required 67 runs in the last three overs. The required run rate climbed steadily, and although Dhoni managed a four and a six, it was insufficient for CSK.

The most painful aspect for Dhoni and his fans was that this struggle occurred with his family, including his parents, wife, and daughter, present in the stands. Reports suggested that prior to the match, MSD sought his father Pan Singh Dhoni's blessings. Social media buzzed with speculation that Dhoni might announce his retirement from IPL, similar to his abrupt exits from Test and ODI formats.

Throughout his innings, Dhoni played numerous dot balls, leading to a flurry of social media comments calling for his retirement, while others expressed sadness seeing a legend struggle to secure a win.

“MS Dhoni’s legacy is built on years of leadership, consistency, and unmatched calmness, but even legends face moments where their decisions are questioned,” remarked a fan on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“As a devoted Dhoni supporter, I urge @ChennaiIPL to consider dropping MS Dhoni for the upcoming matches. It’s time to give his place to younger talents like Shaik Rasheed or Vansh Bedi. We already have Conway for wicketkeeping, making Dhoni less essential in the playing eleven,” another fan expressed.

Some fans even created memes of Dhoni facing a dot ball during a free hit, while others suggested that this was an opportune moment for him to retire.

Since the commencement of IPL 2025, many have been curious about how Dhoni, who will turn 44 in a few weeks, will perform. He received accolades for his exceptional stumpings, especially for dismissing Suryakumar Yadav from the Mumbai Indians. However, his batting has faced criticism after he batted at No. 9 in one match and scored minimally in another.

Saturday's struggle to fulfill the finisher's role, for which he is renowned, further fuels the ongoing speculation.