The legendary Indian and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain, was recently seen boarding a flight to his hometown, Ranchi, after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a one-week suspension of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 due to escalating tensions at the India-Pakistan border.
The video of Dhoni on the flight to Ranchi, shared by a fan page on Instagram, shows the cricketer traveling with his family members. The video also shows other passengers trying to capture the World Cup winning skipper on their phones and get his attention.
Have to work for the next 6–8 months: MS Dhoni
Meanwhile, CSK had a dismal campaign this season, with only three wins from 12 matches, and are already out of playoffs contention. The tournament suspension has provided players with a brief break and an opportunity for Dhoni, who may have time for introspection about his future in the sport.
This season saw the 43-year-old step in as CSK’s stand-in captain mid-tournament after regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was sidelined with an elbow injury. While Dhoni’s leadership brought back old memories, it was not enough to reverse their fortunes. CSK began their campaign with four losses in the first five games and never got the opportunity to make a comeback.
The veteran has had a decent run this season, scoring 180 runs from 12 innings at an average of 25.71 and a strike rate of 140.62. His highest score was an unbeaten 30 against Delhi Capitals. In CSK’s last game before the break, Dhoni scored an unbeaten 17 and guided his side to a narrow two-wicket win against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.
After the game against KKR, the wicketkeeper-batter addressed the speculations regarding his retirement and hinted that he might come to play in the next season.
“That’s the love and affection I have got throughout, not to forget, I’m 43 and I have played for a long time. They don’t know when it will be my last year, it is a fact I play only two months a year. This IPL gets over, then I have to work for the next 6–8 months to see if my body is able to take this kind of pressure. (on his retirement plans) Nothing to decide as of now, but the love and affection I get everywhere is excellent, he said at the post-match interview.
