I am not done yet, I still have time to think about my future, MS Dhoni says

Ahmedabad: It may have been the end of Chennai Super Kings’ campaign, but the mood was anything but sombre. With young stars rising and the old master refusing to confirm his exit, the Super Kings look ready to roar again — whether or not Mahendra Singh Dhoni returns to lead them.

The five-time champions signed off in style on Sunday with a commanding 83-run win over table-toppers Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. It was a performance straight out of the CSK playbook: solid opening, strong finish, sharp in the field.

Electing to bat, Devon Conway and Ayush Mhatre matched the season’s best opening stand to give CSK early momentum. Dewald Brevis, who joined the squad midway through the season, provided the late flourish alongside Ravindra Jadeja as Chennai posted an imposing 230 for five in 20 overs.

In response, Gujarat were never allowed to settle. The Titans faltered early and folded for 147, handing Chennai a comfortable win — one that may not have altered their place on the points table but lifted spirits nonetheless.

Chennai Super Kings finished with eight points, level with Rajasthan Royals but behind on net run rate, anchored to the bottom of the table in Season 18. Yet, there were plenty of positives.

Stand-in captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had said midway through the season that if the playoffs were out of reach, they would focus on building for the future — and they did just that.

Young players like Sheikh Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel, and Anshul Khamboj showed impressive maturity. Brevis, signed as a replacement for Gurjapneet Singh for Rs22 million, proved to be a valuable addition to the middle order.

With regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad expected to return next season and promising talents like Rachin Ravindra, Noor Ahmad, Khalil Ahmed, and Matheesha Pathirana in the mix, the squad now feels fresher, more dynamic — a far cry from the days when CSK were dubbed ‘Dad’s Army’. The experience of Ravindra Jadeja, Devon Conway, and Sam Curran offers a solid backbone to this emerging side.

All eyes were on Dhoni after the match — not just for his on-field nous, but for the decision he didn’t make. At 43, Dhoni had fans wondering if this would be his final appearance in yellow.

Speaking at the presentation in Delhi, he left things deliberately open. “Good to finish on a winning note. This was among the perfect performances. This was one game where the catching was also good,” he said.

“I asked Andre [Siddarth], ‘How old are you?’ And he’s exactly 25 years younger than me! I felt old (and smiles).

"This is professional cricket; you have to be at your best. It’s not just about performances. What’s important is to see how much hunger you have. I have enough time to decide. I’ll go back to Ranchi. I’m not saying I’m done; I’m not saying I’m coming back. I have the luxury of time.”

He added that the team is now in a better place, ready for a stronger push in the next season.

“When Ritu comes back next year... he doesn’t have to worry about too many things, just fill in one or two slots.”

Chennai may have missed the playoffs for a second consecutive year and seen their Chepauk fortress breached more often than usual, but they’ve unearthed a core worth building around. The team that once relied heavily on ageing stars now carries the spark of youth — and the vision of a leader who, whether on the field or in the dressing room, still shapes the franchise’s heartbeat.

And as Dhoni walked off, having outsmarted India’s newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill, fans were left with one more memory — and one more reason to hope. The finisher hasn’t finished just yet.