MS Dhoni retirement: Stephen Fleming breaks his silence on CSK captain's IPL future

Saurav Goyal

MS Dhoni retirement: Stephen Fleming breaks his silence on CSK captain's IPL future image

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming finally responded to the burning question that’s been on every fan’s mind - will MS Dhoni retire after this IPL season?

On the eve of CSK's game against Rajasthan Royals, Fleming was asked about Dhoni’s plans going forward. His response was as short as it gets: 'I don’t know.'

Follow The Sporting News India on WhatsApp

There was no elaboration, no follow-up statement- just three words that only added to the mystery around Dhoni’s next step. This has left fans with even more questions than answers.

Has MS Dhoni dropped any hints about retirement?

Dhoni himself has stayed completely silent. No press statement, no post-match hint, and no farewell gesture. Despite CSK being officially knocked out of the playoff race, the legendary captain has kept everything under wraps.

CSK will play two more matches before wrapping up their campaign, but so far, there's no word on whether these will be Dhoni’s last games in the yellow jersey. With each passing match, the suspense only grows.

MORE'Shreyas Iyer makes IPL teams better' - Ian Bishop praises PBKS captain as Punjab Kings secure 2025 playoff qualification

How has CSK performed under MS Dhoni this season?

It’s been a difficult year for Chennai. They’ve managed only 3 wins from their 12 games and sit at the bottom of the points table. The season took a hit when Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out with a shoulder injury, forcing Dhoni to return as captain.

But even with the seasoned leader back in charge, the team couldn’t quite recover. Now, CSK are simply trying to avoid finishing last, a position that doesn’t suit the five-time champions.

Was MS Dhoni expected to play this season?

Dhoni was retained ahead of the 2025 mega-auction, but surprisingly, in the uncapped category at ₹4 crore. Many fans saw this as a hint that this might be his final IPL season. But nothing has been confirmed Dhoni is keeping his cards close to his chest.

MORESunil Gavaskar aims subtle jibe at Gautam Gambhir: Credit for Shreyas Iyer's IPL captaincy went to 'someone else'

All eyes are now on CSK’s remaining two matches. If Dhoni is planning something, it might come out after the last game. Or maybe he’ll choose to walk away silently, just like he did from international cricket. For now, though, the wait continues.

Saurav Goyal

Saurav Goyal is a Content Producer at the Sporting News with over two years of experience in covering cricket. An avid cricket fan for more than two decades, his passion for the game led him to writing. Since then, he’s been delivering the latest news and engaging content to keep cricket fans informed and entertained.