In the IPL 2025 opener against Mumbai Indians, the 'Dhoni Review System returned, as precise and infallible as ever.
The Indian Premier League's overall brand value declined by 20 per cent to $9.6 billion in 2025 due to lost momentum in the league caused by tensions between India and Pakistan, and teams adjusting to their squad composition post the auction.
Speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan, Mukund, who represented India in seven Tests from 2011-17, said: "I think Shubman has it in him to become an all-format captain, but I do not think India should have an all-format captain anymore."
Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni said he will decide on his IPL future after working hard for 6-8 months and assessing whether his body can cope with the demands of the game.
While the old fans continue to lend their support to Thala and his men, CSK's new generation of fans are not impressed.
Ravichandran Ashwin found himself hilariously enforcing that rule on-air - shushing a co-host mid-sentence as talk of Mahendra Singh Dhoni crept into the conversation.
'Kamboj, Bumrah, Siraj -- that's a serious bowling attack.'
'...154 wasn't a justifiable score. It wasn't turning a lot, may be a little two-paced but nothing out of the ordinary.'
Rajasthan Royals likely to trade Sanju Samson for CSK all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran
M S Dhoni was back, and within moments, he reminded the world why his name remains synonymous with cricketing brilliance.
Abundantly talented but more significantly, incredibly cool in crunch situations, that's how India's 88th Grandmaster and World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh was described by her formative coach Srinath Narayanan, who feels the 19-year-old chess wizard's composure is comparable only to cricket great Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Earlier, Suryavanshi ended his season in style with a stroke-filled half-century in their game against CSK in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Dhoni himself addressed the retirement rumours in a latest podcast after speculation of his retirement from IPL intensified, when his parents Pan Singh and Devaki Devi were seen at Chepauk for CSK's match against Delhi Capitals on Saturday.
'When it comes to our batting department, we want to express ourselves. That's what we did in the last few games. We want to move ahead with it.'
Chennai Super Kings are officially out of the play-off race in Indian Premier League 2025, but their spirit remained intact as they secured their third victory of the season, beating Kolkata Knight Riders by two wickets at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he will now enjoy his bike rides in Ranchi and will take his own sweet time to decide whether he will come back next season.
Mumbai Indians fell 15 to 20 runs short after being put to bat by the Super Kings. They struggled to stitch up significant partnerships and settled for 155/9.
SIP inflows into active equity schemes from areas beyond the top 30 cities (B30), which first crossed this milestone in September 2025, stood at Rs 10,080 crore in October, industry data shows.
Uncapped players who cashed in at the IPL auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Dhoni skips practice again but CSK bowling coach says he is 'fine' and 'will play'
This will also mark Dhoni's first match as skipper since leading CSK to their record-equalling fifth title in 2023.
This is the first time that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's parents Pan Singh and Devika Devi have attended a match in the stadium to watch him play.
'If your performance is not up to the mark and you are not performing but your captaincy is good -- then it becomes a problem for the team.'
Baffled by Chennai Super Kings's tactics in their clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson said he does not understand why Mahendra Singh Dhoni continues to bat lower down the order.
Ravindra Jadeja, who has played a pivotal role in CSK's three IPL title triumphs, was retained ahead of the 2025 season for a hefty Rs 18 crore.
Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed his disappointment at the potential exit of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja from Chennai Super Kings (CSK), saying that the move is "very unlike CSK", a franchise whose "identity was stability and trust in players".
While it's a do-or-die game for KKR, who must win all their remaining three matches to stay in playoffs contention, the match will be more about celebrating Dhoni's legacy than the result.
'The support is phenomenal. But, as you go on and play, then you realise they are MS Dhoni fans before they are CSK fans.'
Dhoni was spotted wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with Morse code.
Expect some fireworks for the highly-versatile Cameron Green along with Quinton de Kock, Matheesha Pathirana, Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi.
Spectators at the M A Chidambaram stadium in Chennai couldn't contain their joy as their beloved Thala was back in the CSK yellow once more.
Sometimes the most relatable reaction face can land you brand deals with Swiggy and Yes Madam faster than a Dhoni six.
Speaking on popular web series, Breakfast with Champions, the 34-year-old spinner recalled how how he once followed the CSK team bus, only to later find himself facing the legendary Dhoni in the nets.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni provided the flourish at the end as Chennai Super Kings outclassed Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets to break their run of losses.
Despite Dhoni's brief fireworks, his inability to deliver a decisive finish raised critical questions about CSK's batting strategy.
India have been served well by Shreyas Iyer in ODIs at No. 4 but with the Mumbai batter unavailable due to injury, the team management entrusted Gaikwad with the job to build the innings and he did it with aplomb, hitting his maiden century in the second ODI against South Africa on Wednesday.
The 8-wicket loss to KKR was their biggest defeat margin in terms of balls remaining (59 balls), surpassing the loss against Mumbai Indians (46 balls) in Sharjah in 2020.
Dhoni was seen flaunting his football skills in front of the Argentine icon, sending the internet into a frenzy.
Viswanathan added that Chennai's long-term roadmap guided the move.
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