I am not saying I am done, not saying I am coming back: Dhoni on IPL future
Ahmedabad, May 25 (PTI): True to his inimitable style, Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept the world guessing on his IPL future, saying he will now enjoy his bike rides in Ranchi and will take his own sweet time to decide whether he will come back next season.
Chennai Super Kings' ordinary season gave fodder to speculations that the side may go in for a complete overhaul in the coming season and the iconic Dhoni will not be around even as a batter.
"It depends. I have 4-5 months to decide, there's no hurry. Need to keep my body fit. You have to be at your best," Dhoni said after CSK's huge 83-run win over Gujarat Titans.
The 43-year-old dropped himself in the batting order, getting to hit only a few balls and could not make the desired impact this season.
So, a question about his future was inevitable after the team's last league game here. Dhoni said lack of performance can never be his reason for taking the retirement decision.
"If cricketers start retiring for their performance, some of them will retire at 22. I will go back to Ranchi, enjoy a few bike rides. I am not saying I am done, not saying I am coming back. I have the luxury of timing. Will think about it and then decide," he said.
Dhoni hoped that CSK would have a good season next year when Ruturaj Gaikwad returns from his injury and joked that only his skipper's age makes him look old.
"Ruturaj doesn't need to worry about too many things next season. He will fit into one of those roles. You feel old. He is exactly 25 years younger than me, that makes me feel I am old," he said.
Talking about the forgettable 2025 IPL season, Dhoni admitted that batting let them down.
"We didn't have a good season, it was one of those perfect performances (vs GT). We haven't caught very well, but the catching was good today. When we started the season, the four games were in Chennai. We decided to bat second, but I felt the wicket was good for batting in the first innings.
"I was worried about the batting department. We can put runs on the board, but a few holes to fill."
GT skipper Shubman Gill, who has been given the reins of India's Test side, said they lost the game in the power play, losing three wickets.
"We never really came back. Chasing 230 is always a tricky target. Teams already eliminated have nothing to lose and they come out all guns blazing. We weren't able to stay calm under pressure and I think we gave in to pressure.
"It's very important to control runs in the middle overs. If you are not going to do that it's going to be challenging. That's where we were lacking in the last two games."
Talking about the mood in the dressing room, Gill said it will be hard to digest a defeat.
"This one would be a hard pill to swallow for us. The bright side is that we have two or three games left so boys will be motivated to play in Mohali.
"Fortunately for me, going back to my hometown... I played a lot of cricket there and it's going to be really exciting," he said.
It’s good to finish on a good note. This was one of our perfect performances. I think the fielding and the catching, throughout the season, we have caught really well.
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 25, 2025
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BJP vows to return to power in 2028 in Karnataka, attacks Cong at executive committee meet
Bengaluru (PTI): BJP leaders on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Congress government in Karnataka and exuded confidence that the party would return to power in the 2028 Assembly elections.
The opposition party in Karnataka also passed four resolutions at its state executive committee meeting at the Palace Grounds here. It includes rampant corruption in the state, misuse of government funds, growing drug menace, agrarian problem and the garbage crisis in Bengaluru.
The party also hailed the Centre for introducing Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajivika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The executive committee welcomed the Centre's decision to give respect to 'Vande Mataram' song.
Addressing the meeting, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra alleged there was "zero development" in the state and claimed discontent within the ruling party.
"Let us work day and night to restore the BJP’s past glory in Karnataka," Vijayendra said, adding, "A situation has arisen where even MLAs of the ruling party may revolt against the government."
He alleged that law and order had completely deteriorated under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the state and referred to murders in Surathkal and Yellapur, claiming no compensation had been provided to the families of a Dalit woman in Yellapur and a Dalit man in Koppal.
He further alleged that Mysuru had become a narcotics hub and recalled the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl during Dasara in the Chief Minister’s home district.
Vijayendra urged party workers to gear up for a series of upcoming elections, including local body polls, GBA elections and Assembly bypolls, and called for grassroots mobilisation to highlight the failures of the Congress government.
Inaugurating the meeting, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, "This is not merely an organisational meeting but a meeting for introspection."
He described it as a gathering to strengthen the organisation and resolve to remove the corrupt government from power.
Expressing confidence about the party’s prospects, he said the BJP would form the government in Karnataka in 2028 with an overwhelming majority.
He criticised the Congress for the Emergency and alleged that the state had become "corrupt and financially bankrupt", referring to scandals, including MUDA. He also claimed there had been infighting over the Chief Minister’s post from the beginning and that public debt had risen sharply.
BJP National General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Radha Mohan Das Agarwal said the party's victory in the 2028 Assembly elections was certain and objected to alleged attempts to curb RSS activities in the state.
He accused the government of favouring minorities over Scheduled Castes and termed it a "corrupt government".
Former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who was felicitated for completing 50 years in active politics, called upon party workers to resolve to bring the BJP back to power "on our own strength" and to "uproot the corrupt Congress government".
Former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said it was Yediyurappa who had brought the BJP to power in Karnataka for the first time in South India and praised his role in strengthening the party.
Several senior leaders, including Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, Shobha Karandlaje and V Somanna, and other state leaders were present at the meeting.
