Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has admitted he is \u201cdone\u201d with the ongoing debate around MS Dhoni\u2019s IPL future, saying Chennai Super Kings have handled the situation badly. Dhoni, who has been sidelined with a calf problem, has not appeared in a single match for the five-time champions this season, despite training with the squad on multiple occasions. That absence has fuelled speculation about whether the former captain could announce IPL retirement this year, but Manjrekar believes the constant noise surrounding Dhoni has become unnecessary and counterproductive.<\/p>\n
Speaking on Sportstar, Manjrekar said he has grown tired of discussing the veteran and that the conversation has reached a point where he no longer wants to engage. He stressed that while Dhoni\u2019s contributions to Indian cricket are always deserving of admiration, the way CSK have managed his current phase has not been handled with the right perspective.<\/p>\n
Manjrekar\u2019s comments were blunt: he said he has \u201cnothing left to say\u201d about Dhoni in the context of CSK\u2019s decision-making, adding that it does not matter anymore whether Dhoni plays or not\u2014because, in his view, CSK have dealt with the entire episode differently than they should have. He also argued that the current version of Dhoni is not comparable to the peak impact he once had, and that CSK\u2019s approach has negatively affected the wider environment within the team.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Manjrekar reiterated his respect for Dhoni as a player and leader. He said what Dhoni has done for India is something he will carry with him, describing him as one of his favourite captains and among the greatest of all time. In his view, though, the present situation is producing a \u201cshadow\u201d of the player people remember from earlier years.<\/p>\n
Manjrekar then framed the argument around team outcomes, suggesting that if Dhoni were in his prime and leading the side, CSK would likely be in the playoffs. Even if Dhoni gets one final appearance or does not, Manjrekar said it is ultimately something fans can enjoy\u2014while he personally prefers to remember Dhoni as he saw him both at the international level and during his earlier CSK years.<\/p>\n
Moving beyond his personal take, Manjrekar believes CSK have learned a \u201charsh lesson\u201d from managing the Dhoni story, insisting the franchise must stop being driven by emotion when selecting their XI. He argued that the correct focus should be on current realities\u2014recent performances, where the team stands in the points table, and what is happening on the field\u2014rather than trying to force a star into the lineup regardless of the match situation.<\/p>\n
In his assessment, Manjrekar said that if CSK concentrate too much on fitting Dhoni into the playing group, the key question becomes how he can realistically contribute in the present conditions. He pointed out that it has become increasingly difficult year after year, citing Dhoni\u2019s age and the fact that he does not play any other cricket besides the IPL.<\/p>\n
Manjrekar also predicted how Dhoni\u2019s typical involvement may shape matches if he returns\u2014arriving later in the innings, batting lower down the order, and possibly taking on a role in the final over. He said this is more a reflection of Dhoni\u2019s exceptional reputation than a structure that represents the best route to win a game.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has admitted he is \u201cdone\u201d with the ongoing debate around MS Dhoni\u2019s IPL future, saying Chennai Super Kings have handled…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":10758,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Sanjay Manjrekar on CSK, Dhoni IPL Future After Calf Absence","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Sanjay Manjrekar says CSK mishandled MS Dhoni\u2019s calf absence, questioning his IPL future and adding fuel to retirement speculation.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n