Rashid Latif Questions MS Dhoni's IPL Continuation
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Rashid Latif believes MS Dhoni should have retired from cricket earlier, suggesting that his continued presence may be detrimental to the Chennai Super Kings amid their struggles in IPL 2025.
Key Takeaways
- MS Dhoni struggles in IPL 2025 season.
- Rashid Latif advocates for younger talent.
- Criticism of prioritizing Dhoni over team needs.
- CSK's current position is concerning.
- Fleming remains uncertain about Dhoni's retirement.
New Delhi, April 6 (NationPress) Once recognized as the ‘finisher’ in Indian cricket, Mahendra Singh Dhoni now finds himself under intense scrutiny after failing to aid the Chennai Super Kings in their run chase for the third consecutive match during the IPL 2025 season.
The five-time champions kicked off the season with a four-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians but have since fallen into a slump, losing three back-to-back matches against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals, and Delhi Capitals while chasing. This slump has resulted in their drop to the ninth position in the league standings.
The former Indian captain appears to be just as agile as ever behind the stumps; however, he has recorded a strike rate of 138.18, which is a significant decrease from 220.55 in the previous season, struggling to find the boundaries and score quickly.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif expressed his view that Dhoni should have stepped away from the game some time ago. As a wicket-keeper batsman himself, he believes that the role should now transition to younger players.
“He should have left a long while back; a wicket-keeper's prime usually ends around 35. I am a living example of this. If I were on television, I would be performing, and when I fail to do so at a high level, my reputation diminishes. Even if you have excelled for 15 years, the younger generations will not be impressed,” Latif told IANS.
Latif further criticized Chennai for prioritizing Dhoni over the team, deeming it ‘unfair to the game of cricket’.
“His performance did not benefit the team during the 2019 ODI World Cup either; they should have recognized that then. Favoring one player over the team is detrimental to the game, which is why they are facing criticism.”
“I observed 2-3 games, and while the crowd is enthusiastic, CSK is in dire need of points right now, sitting at the bottom of the table. If one or two players are the issue, it’s crucial to acknowledge the situation.”
When inquired about Dhoni's potential retirement following the loss against Delhi, Chennai head coach Stephen Fleming refrained from commenting, stating he has ‘no idea’ when the legendary player might consider retiring.
“No, that's not my role to decide. I have no idea. I’m just enjoying working with him still. He’s holding up well. I don’t even ask these days. You are the ones who inquire,” Fleming remarked during the post-game conference.
