Former India spinner Murali Kartik believes CSK icon MS Dhoni may have extended his IPL career beyond the ideal point.
Murali Kartik Suggests It’s Time for Dhoni to Step Away from IPL
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon MS Dhoni may have said he’ll take 5–6 months to decide on his IPL future, but former India spinner Murali Kartik believes the legendary captain may have already overstayed his welcome in the tournament.
Despite ending their IPL 2025 campaign with a commanding 83-run win over Gujarat Titans, CSK finished last on the points table for the first time ever. Dhoni, 43, was underwhelming with the bat, often coming in too late and struggling to finish matches. His inconsistent performances and unusual batting positions — even walking in at No. 9 — sparked debate throughout the season.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Kartik said, “As much as the world loves Dhoni… a day has to come when they have to go. Sometimes you don’t want the ones who love you to say, ‘You’ve overstayed your welcome’ — even if it’s MS Dhoni.”
He added that Dhoni remains unpredictable: “I’ve always said he doesn’t allow his left hand to know what his right hand is thinking. It’s hard to know what’s on his mind.”
At the post-match presentation, Dhoni gave no concrete update, saying only that he’s headed back to Ranchi and will think about his future later.
Ruturaj Gaikwad should stay captain
Responding to a fan query about whether Dhoni could captain CSK in IPL 2026, former India spinner Murali Kartik clarified that the captaincy transition to Ruturaj was intentional and should not be reversed.
“One of the main reasons the captaincy was handed to Ruturaj was to pass the baton,” Kartik said. “Even if Dhoni comes back — and with Dhoni, you never really know — I don’t think they will take the captaincy away from Ruturaj.”
He stressed the importance of giving young leaders time and space to grow: “Those are huge shoes to fill. You have to allow people to find their own shoes. Don’t ask them to fill MS Dhoni’s shoes — let them make their own and grow into them.”