‘Nobody is missing Dhoni': Ex-India captain tears into CSK management

Former India skipper Krishnamachari Srikkanth has powerfully criticised the Chennai Super Kings absorption implicit the handling of MS Dhoni’s fittingness during IPL 2026, accusing the franchise of misleading supporters passim the season. Speaking connected his YouTube transmission aft CSK’s crushing 89-run decision to Gujarat Titans, Srikkanth said the changeless uncertainty surrounding Dhoni’s availability created mendacious anticipation among fans. The erstwhile main selector took purpose astatine skipper

Ruturaj Gaikwad

, caput manager

Stephen Fleming

and the enactment unit for repeatedly suggesting the seasoned wicketkeeper could instrumentality soon contempt him missing the full campaign.

“Before the play started, they said helium has got a limb wounded and that they are hoping to person him soon,” Srikkanth said. “Fleming besides sang the aforesaid song, Ruturaj Gaikwad besides sang the same: ‘He mightiness beryllium acceptable for the adjacent match’. And past earlier the match, CSK volition person a video of Dhoni grooming to amusement the fans and hint helium is acceptable and helium mightiness play.” Dhoni was initially ruled retired due to the fact that of a calf wounded suffered earlier the tournament. While the wounded was expected to support him sidelined briefly, reports aboriginal mentioned a thigh strain and yet suggestions emerged that helium was being rested owed to squad equilibrium concerns.

Despite the uncertainty, CSK ne'er officially confirmed that Dhoni would miss the full season. The seasoned batter besides did not question with the squad for distant fixtures and was seen lone during CSK’s last location crippled astatine Chepauk, wherever helium participated successful the customary thigh of honour. Even then, speculation astir a comeback continued. Ironically, aft CSK’s last league game, Gaikwad fuelled much speculation erstwhile helium responded to broadcaster Graeme Swann’s question connected Dhoni’s aboriginal by saying: “You volition cognize adjacent year.” Srikkanth believes the franchise should person been transparent with supporters from the opening alternatively than keeping fans guessing passim the campaign. “Then they said, ‘no, no. He is inactive recovering from the injury’. And past they said helium got injured successful the thigh,” Srikkanth said. “Stop this deception. You should marque it clear. If helium is not going to play the full season, just enough. Fans would person been mentally prepared had you made that clear.” The erstwhile opener added that the absorption continuously created expectations connected a game-by-game ground alternatively of openly addressing Dhoni’s status. “If you inquire them connected a match-by-match basis, Ruturaj volition accidental ‘the large antheral volition beryllium disposable for the adjacent game’. He kept repeating it. That is wherever the management, the skipper and Stephen Fleming should person said it forthright: ‘He is not playing this season, helium is not afloat fit’.

Fans would person agreed and moved on,” helium added. Srikkanth besides stated that CSK supporters are prepared for beingness aft Dhoni and nary longer expect the franchise icon to proceed indefinitely. “If you look astatine it honestly, cipher is missing Dhoni. Nobody is asking for Dhoni successful the matches. I deliberation radical are asking wherefore helium is not successful the dressing room, but however galore are asking that helium is not playing? The Dhoni epoch is over. Dhoni is 1 of the top cricketers the IPL has produced and 1 of the top captains. You should person made it clear. Why bash you support deceiving fans?” CSK’s disappointing play ended with the franchise missing retired connected the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year. The five-time champions finished with lone 12 points from 14 matches and are acceptable to stay successful the bottommost 4 of the standings.