MS Dhoni has scored 76 runs in 4 matches for CSK in IPL 2025.
Manoj Tiwary has suggested that MS Dhoni should have resigned after winning the IPL 2023 title with CSK and is now gradually losing fans' respect. Dhoni, who remains a key member of the CSK lineup, has failed to make an impact this season as Chennai struggles in the league.
Dhoni has 76 runs from four matches, but fans and analysts have questioned his batting stance. Dhoni hit 30 off 26 balls as CSK lost their third consecutive game on Saturday. Tiwary believes the 2023 final is the best moment for Dhoni to retire.
The former India batsman claimed that supporters have begun to turn against the CSK legend, indicating that the magic is no longer working.
"I think the right time for him to retire was in 2023, when he won the IPL trophy. He should have retired then. Somewhere, I feel that all the fame, name, and respect he earned from cricket — it's kind of slipping away in the last two years with the way he's been playing.
Fans are unable to bear watching him like this, and he’s losing that spark. The trust he built in fans over the years — especially in the hearts of Chennai fans — after the last match, the way fans came out on the roads and gave interviews against him, it should have been a sign that it’s not working anymore," said Tiwary on Cricbuzz.
Tiwary questioned Stephen Fleming's statements, claiming that Dhoni cannot bat for more than 10 overs. The former cricketer believes that the decisions are not being made in the best interests of the team. Tiwary believes that someone should intervene and tell management to call off the trial.
"They’re still trying, and even Stephen Fleming said he can't run for more than 10 overs. But what I don't understand is, if you can field for 20 overs, keep wickets — where you have to get up, squat, dive sideways — if you can pull off run-outs, then your knees don't hurt. But when the team needs you to win, when you're sent out and expectations are high, then you talk about only playing for 10 overs? Everything is being based around that.
The decisions being taken aren’t in the interest of the team, in my opinion. I feel that a strong call needs to be made, a strong call should be made, and someone needs to explain — if it's not happening anymore, then it’s okay, just let it go," said Tiwary.
CSK will have time to claw their way back as they travel to Mullanpur to face PBKS on April 8.