Stephen Fleming played down speculation about MS Dhoni’s potential retirement following CSK’s 25-run defeat to Delhi Capitals in Chennai on Saturday, April 5.
Social media was abuzz ahead of the high-profile fixture, with rumours swirling that the iconic former skipper might hang up his boots after the game.
However, Fleming maintained that he was unaware of any such developments and continues to enjoy working with Dhoni.
“I have no idea. I’m just enjoying working with him still. He is still going strong. I don’t even ask [about his future] these days,” Fleming said during the post-match press conference.
Speculation intensified in the build-up to the match after Dhoni’s parents were spotted watching an IPL game in Chennai for the first time. His wife, Sakshi, and daughter, Ziva, were also seen in the stands, adding fuel to the retirement chatter. However, the CSK social media team later posted a meme dismissing the rumours with a humorous touch.
Dhoni came in to bat earlier than usual, walking out in the 11th over when CSK were reeling at 72 for 5 in pursuit of Delhi’s 183. While he stayed unbeaten, he couldn’t provide the acceleration CSK desperately needed. Vijay Shankar top-scored with a half-century, but both batters struggled to time the ball on a two-paced pitch.
“The intent was there. When he went out, I think the ball started to grip a little bit more. We understood it was going to be good for the first half and then gradually get slower,” Fleming explained. “So, we were keen to bat and then take pace with the ball. They did it really well. Vijay Shankar struggled to get timings all the way through his innings. But that period from 12 to 16 overs was difficult for all. It was tough to watch and certainly tough to be out there.”
Dhoni, now 43, has taken up a late-overs finisher role this season, with Fleming previously confirming the shift. While there were whispers that he could even captain in Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence due to injury, Gaikwad recovered in time to lead the side.
Despite the optimism surrounding their home fixture, CSK’s fielding and bowling fell short. Delhi’s KL Rahul led the way with a steady 77 off 51 balls, supported by useful contributions from Axar Patel, Abhishek Porel, and Tristan Stubbs. In response, CSK failed to recover from early blows and ended at 158 for 5, slipping to their second consecutive home defeat.