Shivam Dube was still in the dugout as the impact sub. The game was in the bag. Almost. That was when Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to come out to close it out. And like multiple times this season, he failed. In fact, that’s the new norm. Dhoni isn’t the finisher anymore. He was past his prime a long time ago. Clearly, he is on borrowed time, and yet he has agreed to play on. While this could be a brand call, are these limp efforts not hurting his image? Does he need to do this? A game that should have been a cakewalk for his team turned into a two-run loss.
Dhoni against the leg-spinner is now a given. He wasn’t able to get him away, and Suyash Sharma could contain him fairly easily. That was when the asking rate touched 14-plus. A decent 18th over, and CSK would have had the finish in control. Nonetheless, a six off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Dhoni stayed in the hunt. But then, against Yash Dayal, he was never able to get under the ball. Never did he get the desired elevation, and when he finally got out, he had made the equation very difficult for Dube. It was Dayal who bowled the poorest ball of the match, which gave Chennai Super Kings (CSK) a chance. And yes, they should have closed it out, but that doesn’t explain why Dhoni would bat ahead of Dube, and why he won’t consider the dreaded retirement decision.
While it is true that it is a deeply personal call, as one who has watched him win countless matches, this hurts. He looks kind of helpless and that’s not nice to see. He is the same MSD who we once called the perfect finisher. He isn’t anymore, and that’s what is painful. Make him mentor or coach or non-playing captain. Invent something for him, like you did the uncapped-player rule and keep him in the set-up. Use his brand, but don’t get him to captain or play.
It isn’t working anymore, and CSK and Dhoni both need to realise and understand that. For the countless fans who make Chepauk yellow, it is unfair. While some will say who cares, for they can see MSD, a few more losses and the murmurs will indeed grow louder. That’s how sport is, and even Dhoni isn’t bigger than the game. No one is. He knows it well. Only, he now has to act. And fast.
RCB with one leg in Playoffs | Mhatre’s Heroics in Vain as CSK Fall Short in Thriller https://t.co/ej4mXWn3sD
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) May 3, 2025