IPL 2025: Ricky Ponting, the former captain of Australia and current head coach of the Punjab Kings, went against the grain and supported the wicketkeeper-batter to produce standout performances in the next games, saying that MS Dhoni’s wicketkeeping abilities are still exceptional.

Dhoni’s calm and deft batting has been the focal point of CSK’s games for the previous 17 Indian Premier League seasons. But for the first time in his IPL career, the former CSK captain’s comments have taken a sharp turn for the worse, changing the headlines.

CSK supporters have been critical of Dhoni as Chennai has had a terrible start to the season. Many analysts have called for Dhoni to resign from the IPL because of the team’s inconsistency and the CSK legend’s batting position.

Following in the footsteps of previous cricket players, former Australia captain Ponting reflected on the retirement discussions surrounding Dhoni, stating that he did not see any reason to question the way CSK analyzed the issue and delivered a “dangerous” reminder that the 43-year-old player is still as excellent as he was as a wicketkeeper.

He is still as excellent as ever at standing up to the stumps against the spinners, so that’s one thing I know about his keeping: it’s not getting any worse. During the Idea Exchange, Ponting told The Indian Express, “Look, you are not going to argue with anything CSK do, they are one of the most successful teams in IPL history.”

“They often make the proper choices and have received steady guidance for a long period. Dhoni bats after other serious ball strikers within their right now that the impact player rule has been implemented,” Ponting said.

Ponting said that it would all depend on how well the ace wicketkeeper does as a batter in the current tournament when asked whether he saw Dhoni hanging his boots under criticism.

He has, I suppose, played a smaller part in recent years, just showing up for the last 10 to 12 balls and attempting to have a significant influence. In the IPL, Dhoni remains a threat, Ponting said.

Stephen Fleming, the head coach of the Chennai Super Kings, has said that MS Dhoni is “still going strong” and that it is not his responsibility to end the former captain’s IPL career.

“No, stopping it is not my responsibility. I don’t know. I’m just having fun working with him. He is still alive and well. These days, I never even inquire. During the press conference after the game, Fleming said, “You guys are the ones that ask (about retirement).”