No player in cricketing history — however great — has been able to outrun time. From Don Bradman to Sunil Gavaskar, from Kapil Dev to Sachin Tendulkar, every cricketer, no matter how indomitable in their prime, has eventually had to bow to the sport’s most ruthless adversary: the passage of years. Today, the same inevitability is catching up with Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Dhoni’s impact on Indian cricket is unparalleled. He led India to three of its greatest triumphs — the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. He transformed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) into the most consistent franchise in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. A player of exceptional composure and tactical acumen, Dhoni is celebrated not just for his finishing abilities but also for his ability to read the game better than anyone else.
Yet, even the sharpest minds falter against the wear and tear of time. The Dhoni who once thrived under pressure, who would stride out to the middle with the game hanging in the balance and turn it on its head, now finds himself pushing his batting position lower and lower. It is not that he is actively running away from responsibility; rather, the game itself seems to be nudging him aside.
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The Farewell Of Legends
History suggests that leaving the game at the right time is a challenge even for the greatest of cricketers. Bradman, who dreamt of ending his career with a perfect average of 100, was dismissed for a duck in his final innings. Gavaskar, on the other hand, signed off with a masterful 96 against Pakistan. Kapil Dev, long past his best, struggled towards the end but recognised when it was time to walk away.
Sachin Tendulkar, Indian cricket’s most beloved son, was given a farewell series that seemed designed solely for his departure. The West Indies team that toured India in 2013 appeared less like a competitive side and more like a supporting cast in a grand send-off.
Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, for all their elegance and dignity, were not granted such ceremonial departures. The likes of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, and Yuvraj Singh, once central to Indian cricket’s dominance, left without fanfare.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, however, occupies a special position. He is not playing international cricket anymore, but he remains in the IPL, a tournament where reputations matter little, and performances dictate survival. Yet, Dhoni’s presence in Chennai Super Kings is not merely about numbers — it is emotional, almost mythical. For CSK’s ardent supporters, he is not just a captain; he is a deity in yellow. And perhaps it is this deification that has made it difficult for him to walk away.
The Inevitable Truth Of Sport
Sport allows for only two exits: either one leaves on their own terms, or they are forced out. Throughout his career, Dhoni has been a master of timing. He relinquished the Test captaincy before it became an issue. He gave up white-ball captaincy when he sensed the transition was due. And yet, as he nears the twilight of his career, the most critical decision still awaits him.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s greatness has always been aligned with his ability to make tough calls. He understood the importance of transition and never overstayed his welcome in any format. His retirement from Test cricket in 2014 was as abrupt as it was necessary, a decision made with clarity and an awareness of his declining output in the longest format. His decision to quit international cricket in 2020 was similarly unceremonious, yet it was entirely in keeping with his personality.
However, the IPL is a different beast altogether. Unlike international cricket, where selectors, team dynamics, and the needs of the country dictate longevity, franchise cricket operates in an alternative reality: one where marketability, loyalty, and fan sentiment often override cricketing logic. CSK has, in a sense, been built around Dhoni’s aura. His leadership, his methodical approach, and his ability to remain unfazed under pressure have made CSK the gold standard of IPL franchises.
But, as the years roll on, the defining factor of Dhoni’s cricket — his finishing ability — has faded. He is no longer the swashbuckling batsman who could single-handedly chase down impossible targets. His reflexes behind the stumps, once the sharpest in the world, have inevitably dulled.
When Is The Right Time To Leave?
If Dhoni announces his retirement from the IPL during this season, it will be a moment of bittersweet closure. His fans, even in their disappointment, will understand that one IPL campaign is a small sacrifice for the dignity of a fitting farewell.
Cricket, like life, moves on. No matter how integral one is to the fabric of the game, the game always finds a way to adapt. Indian cricket did not end with Tendulkar’s retirement, nor did CSK crumble when Dhoni stepped down as captain in 2022. The sport has a way of regenerating itself, and every farewell, no matter how painful, eventually becomes a footnote in the larger narrative of cricket’s evolution.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s legacy in Indian cricket is secure. He has given the game and his teams more than they could have asked for. But every epic has an ending, and the time has come for Dhoni to recognise that the end of his professional journey is now upon him. For someone who built his career on impeccable timing, one can only hope that his exit, too, is perfectly timed.
The writer is a Bengaluru-based management professional, curator, and literary critic
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