Sanjay Bangar, former India batting coach, believes MS Dhoni should consider retiring from the IPL after Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) ongoing struggles this season. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Bangar emphasized that if he were in Dhoni’s position, having played enough cricket and contributed to the franchise, it would be time to move on.
Bangar pointed out that waiting for the “perfect time” to retire, especially if Dhoni is thinking of overseeing the team’s transition, may not be realistic. He suggested Dhoni should accept that the franchise will continue to develop independently, even without his presence, though it might take a little longer.
"If you're thinking the transition will happen fast, there's never an ideal time to pick. So you might as well have peace with the fact that, OK, even if I leave now, the franchise will develop on its own," Bangar said.
In IPL 2025, Dhoni has played 13 matches, scoring 196 runs at a strike rate of 135.17, often batting lower down the order (sometimes as low as No.9), reflecting CSK’s struggles this season.
CSK will conclude their IPL campaign on May 25, facing Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
