• Source:JND
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IPL 2025: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting – now head coach at Punjab Kings – said MS Dhoni’s wicketkeeping skills are still over the top as he went against the tide and backed the wicketkeeper-batter to churn out highlighting performance in the upcoming matches.

Over the past 17 seasons of the Indian Premier League, Dhoni's cool and skilful batting has always been the highlight of CSK's matches. However, for the first time in his IPL career, the headlines have changed drastically as a lot of chatters about the former CSK captain have turned largely critical.

With Chennai making a wretched start to the season, CSK fans, have been critical of Dhoni, with many experts calling for his retirement from the IPL due to CSK legend’s batting position and the team's lack of consistency.

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Joining the bandwagon of former cricketers, ex-Australia captain Ponting mulled on the retirement talks around Dhoni, saying he found no logic in doubting how CSK examined the situation and sent a "dangerous" reminder that the 43-year-old player is still as good as he was as a wicketkeeper.

“Well his keeping is not getting any worse, that’s one thing I do know; he’s not missing many standing up to the stumps against the spinners, as good as ever. Look, you are not going to argue with anything CSK do, they are one of the most successful teams in IPL history," Ponting said while speaking to The Indian Express during the Idea Exchange.

“They have had consistent coaching for a long time and generally make the right decisions. With the impact player rule now, Dhoni bats after other serious ball strikers within their right," Ponting added.

Talking about whether he sees Dhoni hanging his boots amidst critical talk, Ponting stated that it will depend entirely on how the star wicket-keeper performs in the ongoing tournament as a batter.

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“I guess he has played a diminished role in the last couple of years, just coming in for the last 10-12 balls and trying to make a big impact. Dhoni is still dangerous in the IPL," Ponting said.

Recently, Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming expressed that MS Dhoni is “still going strong” and putting a stop to the former skipper's run in the IPL is not a role given to him.

“No, that's not my role to put an end to it. I have no idea. I'm just enjoying working with him. He's still going strong. I don't even ask these days. You guys are the ones that ask (about retirement),” said Fleming in the post-match press conference.