Ahmedabad, May 25 (NationPress) Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the iconic figure of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has neither confirmed nor denied his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the future. He mentioned that he will take some time off to make a decision regarding his career. Dhoni concluded his short stint as captain by steering CSK to an impressive 83-run win against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

Despite CSK's commanding victory in their last league match, the former Indian captain's performance during IPL 2025 has seen a decline. He managed to score only 196 runs in 14 matches, averaging 24.50. His strike rate of 135.17 is notably lower compared to the previous season's 220.55.

Dhoni stated he has the luxury of time to contemplate his future and is expected to make a decision in the next few months. If this was indeed his final game, fans might feel disheartened as he did not have an opportunity to make an impact, despite being dressed for batting.

“I have 4-5 months to decide, and there's no rush. It's essential to keep my body fit. If cricketers start retiring due to performance, many would retire at 22. I’ll return to Ranchi and enjoy some bike rides. I’m not saying I’m finished, nor am I confirming a comeback. I have the luxury of time to think it through,” Dhoni shared during the post-match interview.

This season has been one to forget for the five-time champions, as they suffered their first-ever last-place finish in the points table. With only four wins, CSK will aim to improve and return to form in 2026.

“At the start of the season, we had four games in Chennai. We chose to bat second, but I felt the pitch was conducive for first-innings batting. I was concerned about our batting lineup. There are gaps to fill, but Ruturaj doesn’t need to stress about too much next season. I feel old. I sit in the back, and he sits next to me; he is exactly 25 years younger than I am, which makes me realize my age,” he added.