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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86-year-old British national found dead in hotel room in Shimla
Shimla (PTI): An 86-year-old British national was found dead in his room at a hotel in Lower Kaithu area of Shimla city, police said on Saturday.
According to the police, one Suryavanshi reported that a foreign national staying in room number 103 of his hotel was lying unconscious in his room, late on Friday.
A police team led by a deputy superintendent of police rushed to the spot.
The elderly foreigner -- identified as Barry Elvin Moss -- was found lying unconscious on the floor. He was subsequently shifted to IGMC hospital where he was declared dead, police said.
According to police, during preliminary questioning, the hotel staff said after the foreigner did not respond to repeated calls and his room was found locked from the inside, the staff opened the door with a spare key and found him lying on the floor.
A police inspection was conducted at the scene and evidence were collected. The room was then sealed, police added.
The deceased's body has been placed in the mortuary for post-mortem and correspondence has been made with the UK embassy in this regard, officials said.
Further action will be initiated under Section 194 Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and inquiry for unnatural death -- suicide, homicide or accident -- will be taken up after a response is received from the UK embassy, they added.
