The abiding romance of Dhoni-CSK hits crossroads

MS Dhoni has always got his timing right. If anything, it's been a hallmark of his cricket career. Especially when it comes to his exit strategy. He left Test cricket when he felt the Indian team had transitioned and was ready for their next chapter without him. He did the same from white-ball cricket, even if he let this decision - or its announcement anyway - linger for a while longer.

Some might say he's still got his timing, at least when it comes to the unmatched speed with which he flicks the bails off to stump batters out. But why is it then that for the first time ever the man who has been the torchbearer for timing his check out is being accused by many for overstaying his welcome.

It's a sentiment that came to the fore and got louder after Chennai Super Kings' latest defeat as part of an underwhelming start to their 2025 IPL season. A loss to Rajasthan Royals with another failed run-chase where their former captain showed glimpses of the past but couldn't take them home. That had come on the back of CSK's first defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Chepauk since 2008, with another tepid attempt at gunning a sub-200 total down, with Dhoni's 16-ball unbeaten 30 finishing up as the second-highest score for his team.

While the rest of the batting line-up didn't really set the world on fire either, it was Dhoni's role in the defeat that got highlighted the most. It wasn't quite a case of the 43-year-old being turned into a scapegoat for Chennai's early disappointments but perhaps his own lofty reputation coming back to haunt him. For, it's not like any of the Chennai batters have started too well so far this summer.

Only Rachin Ravindra and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad have managed scores in excess of 30 so far, both of those coming in their opening win against Mumbai Indians. What it's meant is an added onus on Dhoni to finish the job, which he's simply not been able to do in recent seasons. Not that his numbers look any less impactful when viewed in isolation.

The era-defining finisher recorded the highest strike-rate for batters who played 10 or more games in 2024, 220.55 to be precise to go with an average of 53.67, accentuated by a number of not outs. It was the lack of consistent outcomes, in terms of pulling off the big moments, that got highlighted more though. Especially when his efforts to get over the line against RCB in a crunch game came unstuck after he launched a wet ball from Yash Dayal out of the ground, and the replacement ball did the trick for the left-armer.

The fact that it's come down to Dhoni as often as it has in these run-chases, how much ever the crowds might have loved it, is a reflection of how much he's found himself in the spotlight even at this twilight stage of his lengthy career. So, you wonder if it is a case of Dhoni no longer being the right fit for Chennai or is it this current Chennai team no longer being the right fit for Dhoni. Or to put it more bluntly, who's hanging on to whom more here?

There is no denying that Dhoni is playing a specific role for his team, and not just behind the stumps. He's walking out in the death overs with his entry points - as the term in vogue - allowing him to fit into the position he's so thrived on throughout his career. He's if anything playing the Andre Russell role for his team. And his overall contributions on the field, you could argue warrant his place in the squad. The natural leadership and the mid-match mentoring for Gaikwad are invaluable, and the CSK management is well aware of that.

And it's a championship-winning role for Dhoni, in case a few in the top-order get it right. Like they have every time Chennai have been able to threaten for the title. Be it all the way back at the beginning with the likes of Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Murali Vijay and Suresh Raina, or through the second stage of their dominance through Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith or even more recently when Devon Conway and Gaikwad forged a formidable partnership at the top.

The lack of consistency at the top has clearly not helped, even if Dhoni still sticks to walking out to bat only beyond the 12th over at the least. Nor has the drop in power-hitting prowess for Ravindra Jadeja down the order, as was evident the other night against Rajasthan.

Coach Stephen Fleming was categoric in the way he described his talisman's role, admitting to Dhoni's hindrances with batting for more than 10 overs because of his knees not being the same as before. But though Shivam Dube has become the fierce six-hitter in the middle, something Dhoni trademarked for nearly two decades, there still is nobody else in the mix for CSK to be a like for like for their legendary erstwhile skipper.

The Impact Player rule was looked at as being a way for someone like Dhoni to extend his career and even adding an additional couple of years to his already long IPL. It's certainly done that for Dhoni with regards to letting him operate in his own bubble of sorts.

The other argument against Dhoni still being a part of CSK is him potentially holding back a position that could belong to a younger player. But Chennai either haven't got that type of player in their ranks yet or maybe they don't bother getting one since they have been able to hang on to the man who their teams have been built around historically, going back right to their inception.

Having retained him for INR 4 crore, courtesy the alteration in auction rules around the definition of uncapped players, CSK have stuck with Dhoni at a bargain price, especially when you consider what he rakes in for the franchise, at times simply by his presence alone.

There's some irony in the fact that the Dhoni IPL retirement has been pre-empted, telegraphed and even scripted for nearly three years now by everyone except the franchise and the man himself. That has in itself led to the at times over the top ovations he's received for every walk to the middle in the last three or so years, or ever since he replied, "Definitely not" to Danny Morrison's query about the end being nigh five years ago.

There is a school of thought that Chennai matches can at times tend to carry a larger, "when does MS come out to bat" slant than the actual narrative of the game. And while that does have the potential to annoy some neutrals, it's been such a longstanding feature of Chennai in the IPL that at some level, it's surprising that people are suddenly bothered by it.

The multiple-title winning skipper has repeatedly expressed his desire to continue contributing to a team that he's held dearest for as long as he thinks is possible. The Chennai management, meanwhile, have shown zero intention to part ways with their longest-serving cog.

You do wonder then if it's a case of wrong timing more in terms of this current Chennai team lacking the firepower to utilise Dhoni's contributions rather than timing in terms of Dhoni having stuck around for longer than required.

History suggests that Dhoni doesn't wait to get the nudge. He leaves or walks away on his own accord, when he thinks the team is ready to move on without him. It's a part of his legacy as an Indian cricketer. It's a part of his make up in life as well. And if anything, he's thrived on sensing the moment and seizing it when it comes to his decision-making, on and off the field. One of the reasons he's never believed in letting a palmist or astrologer study his hand, as the story goes. For, he doesn't believe in knowing the future, he instead backs himself in shaping it.

It is true that he is a bit more doting and indulgent when it comes to CSK and probably doesn't think they are ready to take the next step without him in the mix, yet.

The Dhoni-CSK bond is an abiding relationship after all that's survived and grown through some testing times and periods. It's also been an abiding ingredient of the overall story of the IPL across 18 seasons. While some or many might feel like it's high time for them to part and for Dhoni to ride into the sunset for good, the fire still seems to burn where it matters most in this most enduring of romances. A couple of wins and a couple of them to come off Dhoni's bat for old time's sake, would help though for sure to quell the voices of dissent and maybe even get them quietly cheering along. For, neither Dhoni nor CSK think it's time yet to let go of each other.