Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming put an end to the rumors about MS Dhoni's retirement, stating that the wicketkeeper-batter is still performing well. He made these remarks after CSK's defeat to Delhi Capitals by 25 runs in Match No. 17 of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

This loss marked CSK's third straight defeat in the 18th season of the lucrative league, as Ruturaj Gaikwad's team struggled to chase down a target of 184 runs set by Axar Patel's Delhi Capitals.

As the match kicked off at Chepauk, speculation swirled that Dhoni might announce his retirement after the game. The rumors intensified when Dhoni's parents were seen in attendance at the match in Chennai.

At the post-match press conference, CSK coach Fleming was questioned about the possibility of Dhoni retiring. He responded, “That’s not my place to decide. I really don’t know. I’m just enjoying working with him while I can. He’s still performing well. I don’t even bring it up anymore; it’s you guys who ask.”

In the game against Delhi Capitals, Dhoni batted at No. 7 and finished with 30 runs off 26 balls, hitting one four and one six. Despite the asking run rate climbing above 15 at one point, the 43-year-old didn’t seem eager to chase boundaries regularly.

In the end, Dhoni and Vijay Shankar put together an unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership of 84 runs, with Shankar scoring 69 off 54 balls. Unfortunately, their efforts weren’t enough, and the team ended up losing.

When Gaikwad was asked about the middle order's lack of aggression, the CSK captain mentioned in the post-match presentation, “From the start, we were always playing catch-up. We fell too far behind and only had one batter left. DC bowled exceptionally well and made the most of the conditions. Even when Shivam Dube was at the crease, we were trying to gain momentum, but it just didn’t work out.”

Earlier, the franchise retained Dhoni as an uncapped player for INR 4 crore.

CSK's top order struggles once more

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) top order struggled once again, with Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Ruturaj Gaikwad all getting out cheaply.

After the match, Gaikwad acknowledged that the team needs to improve, especially their batting during the powerplay.

"It hasn't been going our way for the last few games. We're putting in the effort to get better, but things just aren't clicking. We've lost too many wickets, which is a big issue, and our bowling isn't helping either. We're giving away an extra 15-20 runs or losing too many wickets. We're trying hard, but it’s just not working," Gaikwad said.

"I feel like we might be a bit too anxious or hesitant during the powerplay. And with the bat, we definitely want to avoid losing unnecessary wickets, but it’s all about staying positive. We need to be proactive rather than reactive. Everyone has to come together to turn things around. We need to make things happen," he added.

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