It can be said that at 44, MS Dhoni remains a towering presence in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His decision-making, often described as instinctive yet calculated, is known to be a hallmark of his
career, guiding CSK to five IPL titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023) and cementing his status as one of cricket’s greatest leaders. The 2025 edition of the IPL witnessed stepping into the shoes of captaining the yellow army again after Ruturaj Gaikwad bowed out of the league due to an injury. Dhoni reportedly faced scrutiny for his captaincy as CSK finished last in the league.
However, ODI World Cup-winning former Australian captain Ricky Ponting and Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting has sparked a wave of admiration for CSK skipper MS Dhoni. “It’s rare that an on-field captain doesn’t seek advice from the dugout. MS Dhoni is probably the only captain in the IPL who doesn’t do that,” he said while speaking to Indian Express. Ponting’s remarks highlight a rare trait in modern cricket, where captains reportedly rely more on dugout input, analytics, and coaching staff to navigate high-pressure T20 scenarios. Dhoni, based on Ponting’s opinion, operates differently, trusting his on-field intuition over external advice.
While opining about Dhoni, Ponting reflected on the instance during IPL 2025. “Even in our first game a lot of advice going to Shreyas, and he was asking questions about what the game needed,” he remarked. Ponting further added, “Even with timeouts in IPL, you have a chance to talk to your captain or senior players.”
MS Dhoni’s captaincy faced scrutiny as CSK ended IPL 2025 in 10th and last place
After being retained by the CSK as an uncapped player, MS Dhoni was handed over the captaincy of the side as well after Ruturaj Gaikwad's injury. However, the team could not perform well after winning their first match. It is said that many factors can be said as the reason behind the team which includes the team not having a stable opening pair and top order, along with less impactful middle order. Although, CSK and MS Dhoni wound up their IPL 2025 campaign with a huge win against Gujarat Titans. Dhoni ended the 2025 season with a batting tally of 196 runs from 13 innings at a strike rate of 135.17. He struck 12 fours and 12 sixes in the season, while striking at 151.72 in the death overs.
His highest score of the tournament was 30 not out, which he reached twice, against Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. MS Dhoni’s most impactful outing though came against Lucknow Super Giants, when he scored a match-winning 11-ball 26 in a chase. The 43-year-old also took five catches and completed five stumpings in the season.
Dhoni’s reported approach contrasts sharply with modern T20 trends. Many teams like Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants rely heavily on analytics, using data on batter weaknesses or bowler economies to dictate strategy. Captains like Hardik Pandya or Shubman Gill are often seen consulting coaches or analysts mid-match. Dhoni, however, leans on his experience and an almost uncanny ability to read opponents.
