Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has strongly criticised Chennai Super Kings (CSK) over the way the franchise has managed the “MS Dhoni phenomenon,” claiming it has negatively affected the team’s overall balance and direction. Speaking on Sportstar’s Inside Edge Podcast, Manjrekar said he no longer cares whether Dhoni gets a farewell IPL match, adding that the issue has lost significance for him.
Dhoni, regarded as one of India’s greatest white-ball captains and among the most successful leaders in IPL history, has repeatedly delayed retirement from the league over the past few seasons. Although he gradually stepped away from leadership responsibilities at CSK, rule changes introduced by the BCCI — including allowing him to be categorised as an uncapped player again — enabled the franchise to retain him. However, Dhoni has not played this season due to injury concerns.
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Manjrekar said CSK handled the entire situation poorly and suggested the team’s struggles were linked to their continued dependence on Dhoni’s presence. While praising Dhoni’s achievements for India, he drew a distinction between his international legacy and the latter phase of his IPL career.
He described Dhoni as one of his favourite captains and said his contributions to Indian cricket remain unforgettable. At the same time, he admitted the current version of Dhoni is “a shadow of himself.” According to Manjrekar, if a prime Dhoni had led the current CSK squad, the team would have comfortably reached the playoffs.
Ahead of CSK’s home clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad, many fans expected Dhoni to announce his retirement or play a final farewell game at Chepauk. However, he was unavailable for selection due to fitness issues, keeping speculation over his IPL future alive once again.
