End of an era? CSK’s slump deepens, Kaif stirs retirement buzz around Dhoni

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) slumped to their fifth straight defeat in the ongoing IPL 2025 season, losing to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by eight wickets. This was CSK’s biggest defeat in terms of balls remaining and the first time in their history that they’ve lost five matches in a row in a single season.

The match also marked the return of M S Dhoni as captain after regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out for the rest of the season due to an elbow injury.  

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif sparked a debate on social media following the defeat, suggesting that this might have been Dhoni’s final outing in the IPL. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kaif questioned CSK’s tactics and future plans:

“Is this Dhoni’s last season? The way CSK’s season is going, is the time right for a change? Last question: Why offer a slow pitch at home when the opposition has spinners like Narine and Varun?” Kaif wrote.

Kaif’s comments reflect growing concerns among fans regarding CSK’s performance, especially their strategy against spin-heavy teams like KKR. The slow Chepauk pitch, once considered CSK’s fortress, backfired with Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy exploiting the conditions.

In the post-match presentation, Dhoni acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating that they failed to capitalise on the powerplay and couldn’t build strong partnerships — two key factors that led to their downfall.

As CSK languishes at the bottom of the points table, speculation around Dhoni’s retirement and the team’s future continues to intensify.