IPL 2025: MS Dhoni back in Ranchi, enjoys fishing after CSK's disappointing season
After a forgettable IPL 2025 campaign, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon Mahendra Singh Dhoni has returned to Ranchi, where he's spending his time away from the cricketing spotlight. The former India captain was recently spotted at his farmhouse enjoying a quiet fishing session. A photograph of MS Dhoni holding a freshly caught fish has gone viral on social media, where he is seen wearing a black T-shirt with the words "Duty, Honor, Country."advertisement"It depends. Again, I would say the same thing: I have four-five months to decide, there's no hurry to decide what needs to be done," Dhoni said when he was asked about his IPL future. "Now I have to go to Ranchi and enjoy bike rides in my hometown," he had said after CSK's final league match, hinting at a break from the game before making any decisions about the future.CSK ended their 2025 season at the bottom of the table - a first in the franchise's 16-year history. Despite finishing on a high with an 83-run win over Gujarat Titans, the team managed just four victories in 14 matches and were the first to be knocked out of the playoff race. The previous low came in 2022, when they finished ninth.advertisement
Asked about his plans, Dhoni said: "Every year, it's 15% more effort to keep the body fit - not to forget this is top-level cricket. It's professional cricket - you have to be at your best - and it's not always performance that you can count, because if cricketers start retiring because of performance then a few of them will retire when they're 22."What is important to see is how much hunger you have, what kind of fitness you have, and how much you can contribute to the team, and whether the team needs you or not. So I have enough time. I will go back to Ranchi - haven't been home for a long time - enjoy a few bike rides, [take a] couple of months and then decide.He also spoke candidly about the increasing physical demands of the game. "I'm not saying I'm done, I'm not saying I'm coming back. As I said, I have the luxury of time. When you have the luxury then why not think about it and then decide."Dhoni played every match for CSK this season and faced more deliveries than he had in the previous two editions combined. However, there was criticism about his position in the batting order, with many feeling he came in too late during crucial moments. Stay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment! You May Also Like
IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
IPL rush bowls over Ahmedabad's hotels, eateries
Ahmedabad: The city's hospitality scene is hitting shots out of the boundaries, thanks to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 fever gripping the city. With two high-voltage matches — the Eliminator clash between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians on Sunday and the grand finale on June 3 — lined up at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, hotels and food & beverage businesses are enjoying a summer surge. Traditionally, May and June are considered off-season months, when scorching heat keeps footfalls low and occupancy rates dip. But this year, the buzz around IPL has turned what is usually a lean period into a business bonanza. "The excitement surrounding IPL 2025 leads to a noticeable surge in cricket enthusiasts travelling to Ahmedabad. Almost all hotels are seeing high occupancies. We have guests — from teams and fans to corporate delegations — coming from across the country this season," said Keenan McKenzie, cluster general manager, ITC Narmada. Hotel occupancy across all segments, from luxury to budget, has climbed above 85%. IPL-driven traffic is not only checking in but also indulging in premium services and IPL-themed culinary experiences. Hoteliers report a strong demand for curated late-night menus, in-room dining, and special fan engagement events. "After the usual lull in May, IPL has brought back a tremendous sense of momentum," said Puneet Baijal, general manager, Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad. "Occupancy is seeing a sharp uptick, with a diverse range of guests, including solo travelers, large groups of fans, families, and corporate contingents, coming in from all over the country," he explained. Restaurants and cafes, too, are cashing in on the cricketing carnival, rolling out live match screenings, themed menus, and match-hour deals — both in-house and through delivery platforms. Several outlets report a 40–50% surge in footfalls on match days, driven largely by the city's youth eager to soak in the stadium-like atmosphere. The trend reflects the impact of sports tourism seen in the city to attract both local patrons and out-of-town visitors. Vikas Sood, general manager, The Leela Gandhinagar and Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre, explains, "Sports tourism is clearly emerging as a powerful driver for the hospitality sector in Ahmedabad, and events like these help hotels bounce back during the summer months. The trend is common in several developed economies. During events like IPL, the benefit is not limited to the hospitality sector alone but extends to F&B, fitness and wellness, and transport businesses, which is seen in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. IPL 2025 is a precursor to several bigger sporting events taking place here." For Ahmedabad, which has been steadily building its profile as a sporting destination, events like these are proving to be economic lifelines for local businesses during an otherwise dull period.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"Yesterday only Tamil Nadu boys performed": TNCA President feels only players from Tamil Nadu in GT team performed against MI
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India] May 31 (ANI): P Ashok Sigamani President, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association praised Gujarat Titans (GT) players Sai Sudarshan, Washington Sundar, Shah Rukh Khan and Sai Kishore for their performance in their recent outing in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), clash against the Mumbai Indians (MI), in the Eliminator-1, on Friday in Mullanpur. A brilliant half-century by Sai Sudharsan and his partnership with Washington Sundar went in vain as a fine death bowling effort from Mumbai Indians (MI) helped the Blue and Gold franchise eliminate the 2022 IPL champions from the competition with a 20-run win. 'They are definitely on the Indian lineup. They have been knocking on the door for a long time. More than 3-4 years. Yesterday, you could have seen it in the IPL. Only the Tamil Nadu boys have shown. Sai Sudarshan, Washington Sundar, Shah Rukh Khan and Sai Kishore. They have all performed,' P Ashok Sigamani told reporters. Sudharsan and Sundar were the top scorers for GT. Sudharsan made 80 off 49 balls, including ten fours and a six. On the other hand, Sundar smashed 48 off 24 balls, with a brilliant strike rate of 200. Spinner Sai Kishore was the pick of the bowlers for GT. He grabbed two wickets in his four-over spell and gave away 42 runs. Gujarat finished their IPL 2025 season after this defeat, and now, MI has booked a Qualifier two clash with Punjab Kings (PBKS) for a chance at the IPL final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Gujarat Titans Full Squad: Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Kusal Mendis(w), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Gerald Coetzee, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, Ishant Sharma, Washington Sundar, Jayant Yadav, Dasun Shanaka, Karim Janat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra, Gurnoor Brar, Nishant Sindhu. (ANI)
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"Their strategy was more reactive than proactive": Robin Uthappa on GT losing to MI
New Delhi [India] May 31 (ANI): Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa reflected on Gujarat Titans (GT) strategy against Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator-1 in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday. He pointed out that using GT seamer Prasidh Krishna in the powerplay was a mistake, as his first over was costly, and they didn't adjust their approach. Uthappa highlighted that the expensive overs and fielding errors, including dropped catches, were detrimental to the team's chances of winning. 'GT's strategy was more reactive than proactive. Using Prasidh in the powerplay - despite his success in middle overs - was a misstep. His first over was expensive, and they failed to course-correct. The 26-run and 22-run overs proved costly. On top of that, their fielding let them down. You can't drop that many catches and expect to win a championship,' Uthappa said on JioHotstar. A brilliant half-century by Sai Sudharsan and his partnership with Washington Sundar went in vain as a fine death bowling effort from Mumbai Indians (MI) helped the Blue and Gold franchise eliminate the 2022 champions from the competition with a 20-run win at Mullanpur on Friday. With this win, MI will now play Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Ahmedabad on June 1 for a spot in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on June 3. The Mumbai-based franchise will be eyeing their seventh IPL final after 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020, whereas the Shreyas Iyer-led side will be looking to enter the final for the second time after 2014. The Hardik Pandya-led side has so far won five titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020). On the other hand, the Punjab-based franchise will be looking to win their maiden title in the history of the competition. (ANI)
