IPL 2025: Life comes a full circle for MS Dhoni | Mint

When MS Dhoni was first appointed captain of India, he brought something refreshing to the work. His decision -making was sharp, his behavior was a version of Calm that had never been seen before, and his prospects were refreshing. Dhoni soon showed that he could carry an iron fist in a velvet glove by being stuck with his captaincy calls, even those who would not be popular. Most importantly, he was a winner. The Indian team, and Chennai Super Kings, were both very successful under Dhoni. He may have thought he was done with Captaincy until fate brought him back in the hot seat in IPL 2025. However, his first game in charge was far from his glory days-an eight-wicket that hit Kolkata Knight Riders, with 9.5 overs saving after CSK was up to 103. Dhwag-Gambhir-Tendulkar in 2008 dropped Dhwag-Gambhir-Tendulkar and in 2008 decided that Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, former captains and icons, were not well suited to the demands of the one-day match, nor would they be in the field. He dropped them from a three-series in Australia that India has won. The crux of that group then lifted the World Cup in 2011. A year later, in another three-series in Australia in 2012, Dhoni played only two from Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, except the last league game. The reasons were similar to 2008. If Dravid and Ganguly icons were, Tendulkar was larger than both together. However, he was very clear at the end of his career, so the blow was softer. But it was still a very daring call, and the other two players – Sehwag and Gambhir – both made their displeasure with it. How would the 2008-2012 Dhoni treated the 2025 Dhoni? Life seems to have come a full circle for Dhoni, the captain. He started IPL 2025 as just another player, though he was still part of the leadership group at CSK. But the elbow fracture of Ruturaj Gaikwad meant that Dhoni had to step back into the leadership boots. If the early years were Captaincy Dhoni in charge of CSK, how would he have seen Dhoni’s 2025 version? Would he have accepted a player who was 44 years old, and whose knees would not allow him to bat until at least three -quarters of the turn was done? Should he have weighed through leadership of the field, and undoubted wicket skills, against the limitations that the age of old people brought, was very firm, almost ruthless, with outdated players. Would he have been so firm with himself? The impact player cushion in favor of Dhoni 2025 is two things: he plays T20s and not ODIs, so there is significantly less time in the field. And the rule of impact player allows him to bat later than usual because the batting line is extended. The construction of CSK’s group was very heavy anyway, so most times it is not as if people with a poor batting ability are sent before Dhoni. His conservation still remains of the highest point, and there is undoubted value he brings up and off the field. If his batting can be managed most games – which is reasonable – he is still a net positive in the XI. The problem comes with the rare occasions when it does not apply. Dhoni back in his first game, while not much Dhoni could do on the field to defend 103, his choices when CSK batted, marveled. He chose to bat first on winning the throw, questionable in the night matches, but when the batting collapsed, he beat himself again on No.9. He could have entered 65 in 11 overs at 65 to partner Shivam Dube. Dhoni is more comfortable at pace than spin, but plays next to a spin-hitter like Dube has softened it somewhat. But Dhoni sent R Ashwin, then Ravindra Jadeja. And then he influenced a horrible from the form of Deepak Hooda, which lasted and did not record four balls. This meant that CSK would not be able to bring in Matheesha Pathirana, a sincere strike option that would be much needed if you defended a total of the par. Dhoni came in when Hooda came out anyway. If you had Pathirana, it may not have resulted in a win for CSK, but it could have made things a little harder for KKR at least. It is still early days in what Dhoni’s final tilt can be at Captaincy. Perhaps he should just end up in the skin and mindset of the 2008 Dhoni to bring about a change in fate. First published: 11 Apr 2025, 23:13 IST