Categories: CricketIPL

IPL 2025: ‘Not My Role to Comment’ – CSK’s Stephen Fleming On MS Dhoni’s Retirement Talks

Stephen Fleming, the head coach of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), responded to the growing rumors about MS Dhoni’s retirement after the CSK vs DC match. CSK suffered a heavy loss to Delhi Capitals in the 17th match of the 2025 Indian Premier League, which was held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, April 5.

Stephen Fleming Addresses MS Dhoni Retirement Rumors

During the match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals, rumors about MS Dhoni’s retirement reached their peak, especially since Dhoni’s parents were present at the game, which is a rare sight.

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MS Dhoni had a poor performance, scoring just 30 runs off 26 balls, including 1 four and 1 six. He couldn’t help CSK chase down the 184-run target.

Many expected MS Dhoni to announce his retirement after the match, but that didn’t happen. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming spoke at the press conference and was asked about Dhoni’s retirement. Fleming replied that Dhoni is still going strong and that they don’t discuss his future with him. He said:

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“He is still going strong, and I don’t even ask him (about the future) these days.”

MS Dhoni (PC: ESPN)

Ruturaj Gaikwad Talks About CSK’s Struggles After Powerplay

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged that the team was always behind after the powerplay and couldn’t recover, with only one batter remaining. He mentioned that DC bowled well and made good use of the conditions. Gaikwad also noted that despite trying to improve, recent games haven’t gone in their favor, mainly due to losing too many wickets.

“Since powerplay we were always playing the catch up game. We were too far behind and we only had one batter left. DC bowled really well and used the conditions really well. Even when Shivam Dube was batting we were looking for momentum, but it just didn’t happen.

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“Since the last few games, it’s not going our way. We are trying to improve, trying our best, but not going our way. Definitely lost too many wickets. It’s a major concern even in the bowling department. We are giving away 15-20 runs extra or losing too many wickets. We are trying, but it’s just not happening,” said CSK skipper in the post-match press conference.

CSK Captain Calls for Positive Approach Amidst Struggles

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad admitted that the team was always playing catch-up after the powerplay and couldn’t recover, especially with just one batter left. He praised DC for their smart bowling and good use of the conditions. Gaikwad also mentioned that despite their efforts to improve, recent games haven’t gone their way, largely due to losing too many wickets.

“I just think that we are slightly over concerned or tentative, whoever is bowling in the powerplay. And with the bat obviously you don’t want to lose an extra wicket, but it’s just about being positive. I think it’s about being on the back foot and not being on the toes. Everyone needs to come together to make things happen. We need to make things happen,” he added.

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Unnati Madan

Unnati is a passionate cricket writer with a deep love and understanding of the game. As a female cricket writer, she brings a unique perspective to the sport, having had to overcome various challenges to pursue her passion for cricket. Growing up, Unnati developed a love for cricket by watching matches with her family. She was always fascinated by the way the game was played, and would often spend hours reading about cricket, analyzing matches, and learning more about the sport. However, as a female in a male-dominated industry, she faced numerous obstacles to pursue her passion for cricket writing. Despite this, Unnati persevered and became an accomplished writer in the field. Unnati’s writing style is engaging and insightful, with a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the nuances of the game. Her articles are known for their depth of analysis, and she is often sought after for her strong opinions on the sport. Unnati has a unique ability to break down complex ideas and make them accessible to a wide audience, which has helped her build a large following of readers.