“It’s time for him to rest” - India’s T20 World Cup winner makes huge statement on MS Dhoni amid IPL 2025

Former Indian pacer Joginder Sharma believes the time is right for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend MS Dhoni to 'rest' after the side's dismal IPL 2025 campaign. The Men in Yellow are at the bottom of the points table with only three wins in 12 matches.

Dhoni has been dealing with knee issues since the 2023 season, with batting limitations since having knee surgery two years back. The 43-year-old has faced only 128 deliveries in the ongoing season, walking into bat at only the final stages of CSK's innings.

Yet, Dhoni's ball-striking form remains intact, with the wicketkeeper batter striking at a rate of over 140. He has also captained CSK after Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the tournament after five games.

Speaking to ANI about Dhoni's future, Joginder said (via NDTV):

"Considering Mahi's fitness level, he should play up to prove his fitness, but I believe it is time for him to rest."

Dhoni himself spoke about his future after CSK's latest encounter against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), saying:

"After this IPL gets over, I have to work hard for another 6-8 months to see if my body can take this pressure. Nothing to decide now, but the love and affection I have seen is excellent." (via aforementioned source).

CSK will be absent from the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history.

CSK look to avoid a dubious first in IPL 2025

CSK are in a precarious position on the IPL 2025 points table [Credit: Getty]

Despite playoff elimination, CSK still have much to play for in their final two league stage games of IPL 2025. The five-time champions are in grave danger of finishing at the bottom of the table for the first time in their 16-year history.

CSK will avoid a bottom-placed finish with a win over the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Delhi today (May 20). However, should they lose the RR clash, they will have to win their final match against table-toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) by a margin big enough to pip RR on net run rate.

CSK lost their first meeting against RR this season by six runs in a thriller at Guwahati.

About the author

Venkatesh has been writing cricket news, listicle and feature articles for Sportskeeda for over a year. He loves cricket because of the diversity of the playing fields and its unparalleled nuances, which no other sport presents. He also enjoys the analytical and quantitative side of the sport, which originates from his MBA degree and 10 years of experience in the IT industry in companies like Infosys, Atos and TCS.

Venkatesh ensures proper research from reliable sources and social media trends to gather information, and adds his own dash of creativity to create insightful content.

He started watching cricket in the late 1990s, having been impressed with South Africa and New Zealand’s gentleman-like attitude. Domestically, he supports the Chennai Super Kings for their ability to bring the best out of their players owing to a friendly and conducive team environment.

He admires three cricketers the most – Brian Lara for his batting style, AB de Villiers for changing the paradigm of batting and MS Dhoni for his unique cerebral approach to field placings and batting. Along with cricket, Venkatesh also enjoys watching and playing tennis and basketball. In his free time, he finds pleasure in singing and watching movies and web series.

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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran