Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar said he is “exhausted” discussing MS Dhoni and his Indian Premier League future, while sharply criticising Chennai Super Kings for the way the franchise has managed the veteran wicketkeeper-batter’s prolonged absence this season. Dhoni has not played a single match for the five-time IPL champions this season after reportedly suffering a calf strain, triggering widespread speculation over whether he could announce his retirement from the league.

Despite training with the squad on several occasions, the former India captain has remained unavailable for selection, keeping uncertainty around his future alive throughout the campaign. Speaking to Sportstar, Manjrekar said he has lost interest in the ongoing debate surrounding Dhoni’s role and future with the franchise. He stated that while Dhoni remains one of India’s greatest captains and cricketers, the current situation has become more about emotion than performance.

Manjrekar added that the present version of Dhoni is “a shadow of himself” and claimed CSK mishandled the entire situation, which ultimately affected the team’s balance and campaign. The former cricketer, however, praised Dhoni’s legacy with both India and CSK, saying his achievements remain unmatched in Indian cricket. Manjrekar remarked that a prime Dhoni would still have been capable of guiding the current CSK side into the playoffs, highlighting the former captain’s influence and leadership during his peak years.

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Manjrekar also said CSK had learned a “harsh lesson” from the Dhoni saga, arguing that franchises should not allow emotional attachment to outweigh current form and team requirements. According to him, the team appeared too focused on accommodating Dhoni in the playing XI instead of concentrating on performances, results and their position in the points table.

He further noted that age and limited cricket activity outside the IPL have made it increasingly difficult for Dhoni to contribute consistently. Manjrekar suggested that Dhoni’s brief late-order appearances in recent seasons reflected the player’s individual greatness rather than a strategy that necessarily improved CSK’s chances of winning matches.

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