MS Dhoni has featured in all 18 seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but former India all-rounder Sanjay Bangar believes it may be time for the legendary cricketer to reflect on his career and consider stepping away from the game. Bangar’s comments came after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) suffered their 10th loss of the IPL 2025 season—a milestone they hadn’t reached since IPL 2022.
In their latest match, CSK faced Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Delhi and fell short by 6 wickets. RR skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bowl first. Despite a fiery start from Ayush Mhatre, who smashed 43 off just 20 balls with eight fours and a six, CSK’s middle order faltered. Key batters like Devon Conway, Urvil Patel, R. Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja failed to capitalize on the momentum.
Dewald Brevis (42 off 25), Shivam Dube (39), and MS Dhoni (16) contributed crucial runs as CSK posted 187/8 in their 20 overs. Akash Madhwal and Yudhvir Singh starred with the ball for RR, taking three wickets each.
RR’s chase began with a quickfire 36 off 19 from Yashasvi Jaiswal before he was dismissed by Anshul Kamboj. Vaibhav Suryavanshi then took charge, hammering 57 off 33 deliveries with three sixes and three fours. He stitched a 98-run partnership with Sanju Samson (41), laying the foundation for the chase.
Finishing the job in style, Dhruv Jurel smashed an unbeaten 31 off just 12 balls, sealing the win in the 18th over. RR wrapped up the game at 188/4. R. Ashwin was the standout bowler for CSK, claiming two wickets.
Sanjay Bangar on MS Dhoni: “At 43, it’s very tough to play in such a competitive environment”
MS Dhoni, now 43, has found it increasingly difficult to keep up with the demands of top-level cricket. In a recent match, he managed just 16 runs off 17 deliveries. Since taking over the captaincy mid-season due to Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury, Dhoni has scored only 196 runs in 13 innings, averaging 24.50 with a strike rate of 135.17. His highest score this season remains an unbeaten 30.
Former India all-rounder and coach Sanjay Bangar shared his perspective on Dhoni’s future, suggesting that this season might be the right time for the legendary cricketer to step away.
“If I were MS, I would say, ‘That’s enough.’ I’ve played as much as I wanted, supported the franchise, and if that was my motivation, I’ve fulfilled it. But there comes a time when you need to move on,” Bangar said during a segment on ESPNcricinfo.
He added that MS Dhoni presence might delay the team’s transition process. “If you’re sticking around hoping the transition will be smooth or immediate, that ideal moment never really comes. Sometimes, you have to accept that even if you step away now, the team will find its way—maybe it’ll take a bit longer, but that’s okay. You don’t have to be there for the entire cycle. That’s how I’d look at MS Dhoni situation if I were him.”
Bangar also pointed out the physical challenges MS Dhoni faces at his age. After undergoing knee surgery following CSK’s IPL 2023 victory, Dhoni dealt with a hamstring issue in IPL 2024 and has again been troubled by knee problems in IPL 2025.
“At 43, staying fit for such a competitive environment is incredibly tough. Even playing local cricket at that age is hard on the body, let alone professional T20 matches,” Bangar remarked.
