When Chennai Super Kings announced that MS Dhoni is returning as the captain for the remaining matches of the IPL 2025, the fans started celebrating, thinking the franchise would return to winning ways. The jubilation was expected as he has led the team to five IPL titles and several runners-up finishes in the history of the tournament. However, former players Robin Uthappa and Irfan Pathan had warned the supporters to keep their expectation levels down as Dhoni’s mere presence as a leader doesn’t guarantee success and the team was lacking in several departments.
Their words proved right when Kolkata Knight Riders thumped the Men in Yellow by 8 wickets at Chepauk. The score of 103 posted by the Super Kings was below par, and the visiting unit completed the chase in 10.1 overs. Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been backing Dhoni for a long time, opened up on the harsh reality of the IPL.
“Fans will say that we (Chennai Super Kings) lost because MS Dhoni was made captain. A captain can’t win matches alone. He is as good as his team, and by the time he came out to bat, the match was already over for Chennai,” he said.
“There was so much hype created around his comeback as a captain, as if he would single-handedly lead the team to success. Cricket is not played like that as it is a team game, and you need performances from other players as well. I didn’t see a single batter who tried to take on the KKR bowlers,” he added.
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