IPL 2025: "I'd say enough.." MS Dhoni advised to retire from the game

MS Dhoni has played all 18 seasons of the IPL.

MS Dhoni should reflect on his career in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and probably walk away, opined former India all-rounder Sanjay Bangar. This came after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lost their 10th game in the ongoing IPL 2025. CSK lost to Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 6 wickets in Delhi, and this is the first time since IPL 2022 that they have lost 10 games in one IPL season.

Sanju Samson of RR won the toss and chose to bowl first. Ayush Mhatre hit 43 in 20 balls with eight fours and one six, but the middle order struggled with Devon Conway, Urvil Patel, R. Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja. 

Dewald Brevis (42 in 25 balls), Shivam Dube (39), and MS Dhoni (16) all helped CSK to 187/8 in 20 overs. Akash Madhwal and Yudhvir Singh each took three wickets for RR.

Yashasvi Jaiswal dominated the powerplay with a blazing 36 in 19 balls before falling to Anshul Kamboj. Next came Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who smashed 57 in 33 balls with three sixes and three fours, combining 98 runs with Sanju Samson (41) for the second wicket.

Dhruv Jurel (31* in 12 balls) put an end to the match in the 18th over, and RR won by 6 wickets, reaching 188/4. R. Ashwin took two wickets for CSK.

At 43, it’s very tough to play in that competitive environment. Sanjay Bangar on MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni struggled to a knock of 16 runs off 17 balls. Dhoni, who assumed responsibility halfway through the season following the injury of captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, has only amassed 196 runs at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 135.17 in 13 innings thus far. His best score to date has been an unbeaten 30.

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar stated that if he were MS Dhoni, he would say “enough” at the end of this season following Dhoni and company’s most recent loss.

“It all boils down to MS, but if I were MS, I would say ‘enough.’ I’d say, ‘Okay, I have played whatever I wanted to play; I have looked after the interest of the franchise,’ if there’s any, if that was the motivation. But, you know, you move on.

By you being there, if you’re thinking that the transition will happen fast, there’s never an ideal time to pick. So, you might as well make peace with the fact that, ‘okay, even if I leave now, the franchise will develop on its own; it will take a year longer, but I’m not going to be here for the entire cycle.’ That’s how I would look at MS’ position if I were in that position,” Bangar said on ESPNCricinfo.

Bangar also stated that at 43 years old, MS Dhoni finds it difficult to stay fit for competitive cricket. Dhoni underwent knee surgery after the IPL 2023 win. He suffered from a hamstring injury in IPL 2024, and in IPL 2025, he has struggled with his knees again.

“I think at 43 it’s very tough to play in that competitive environment. When you’re 43, why this competitive environment? Even if you go and play some local cricket, you will find how tough it is on the body as well,” Bangar said.

CSK have one game in hand, against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on May 25.

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