Mahendra Singh Dhoni who brought home many a glories for Team India has proven that even at the age of 43, he can pull massive crowds to the stadium. Just tune in any Chennai Super Kings contest in the ongoing 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the decibel levels are through the roof when Dhoni is on the giant screen. He hasn’t lost the magic touch behind the stumps, his lightning reflexes and glovework still stun the batters and watchers alike. But when it comes to his fitness, Dhoni isn’t the same young cricketer a generation of fans grew up watching and adoring. So when CSK coach Stephen Fleming stated that Dhoni couldn’t bat long overs after the team registered their second consecutive loss in IPL 2025, fans were left with mixed feelings.

(BCCI photo/IPL)