Is MS Dhoni playing his last IPL game? 'Thala's parents at Chepauk spark retirement rumours

Every Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 team has a central figure around whom the team dynamic and fan content revolve — and for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), it's none other than Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The 'Thala' of CSK has been with the franchise since 2008, and ever since his retirement from international cricket, discussions about when he'll hang up his boots in the IPL have been ongoing.

Each year, when the topic of his retirement came up, Dhoni would simply say, "Definitely not" this year. However, in IPL 2025, CSK haven't had the best start to their campaign, managing just one win and two losses. Dhoni has also drawn criticism for coming in to bat too low in the order — including once at No. 9 — with many now speculating that his time may finally be up.

MS Dhoni's parents at Chepauk

With five IPL titles and countless iconic moments to his name, MS Dhoni has firmly cemented his legacy as one of the greatest figures in the league's history. However, recent developments have reignited speculation that IPL 2025 could be the final chapter of his storied career.

Adding fuel to the rumours, Dhoni's parents were spotted at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, prompting many to wonder if they were there to witness him in action for one last time. His wife, Sakshi Dhoni, and daughter, Ziva, were also present at the stadium, adding emotional weight to the occasion.

Fans react

Fans also shared images of Dhoni's family on X (formerly known as Twitter), further fueling speculation that the match against Delhi Capitals (DC) could be his farewell game.

One user wrote, "MS Dhoni's parents, wife, and daughter are present at Chepauk for today’s match."?

Another said, "MS Dhoni's parents, wife, and daughter Ziva — all family members are at Chepauk. This is the first time I've seen this."?

A third fan commented, "I've never seen MS Dhoni’s parents watching a game at the ground before. Is this his last match?"?

And another added, "As a CSK fan, seeing Dhoni’s parents at the stadium for the first time... but why does it feel like it could be for his retirement?"

MS Dhoni's IPL journey

Dhoni has featured in 267 matches, batting in 232 innings and scoring 5,289 runs at an impressive average of 39.18 and a strike rate of 137.70.

Of these, 237 appearances have come in CSK colours, during which he has amassed 4,715 runs at an average of 40.30 and a strike rate of 139.46.?

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