Although Dhoni is known as a finisher, this season he seems to be playing a bigger role in ‘finishing’ his own team, according to Rashid Latif.
In the ongoing season of the IPL, Dhoni has been far from his best with the bat. His lack of form is also impacting Chennai’s performance. So far, the team has managed to win only one out of four matches. Former Pakistani cricketer Rashid Latif has questioned why Chennai is still playing Dhoni despite his poor form.
In an interview with Indian news agency IANS, Latif said, “His (Dhoni’s) performance didn’t benefit the team much even during the 2019 ODI World Cup. They should have realized it then. If you select a player by ignoring the team’s interests, it is an injustice to the game itself. That’s why there’s so much criticism now.”
According to Latif, Dhoni should have stepped away much earlier. He said, “He should have left a long time ago. When a wicketkeeper reaches the age of 35, they should think about stepping away. I am an example of that. When I’m on television, I am still a performer. If I can’t perform at the highest level, my reputation will suffer. Even if you contribute for 15 years, the younger generation won’t be impressed if you can’t maintain your standards.”
In the 2025 IPL so far, Dhoni has scored 76 runs across four matches. Although he is famous as a finisher, this season he seems more involved in ‘finishing’ his team rather than the matches. Particularly, his ODI-style batting approach and disregard for strike rate have started to frustrate even his loyal fans.
