At 43, MS Dhoni continues to prove why he is one of the greatest wicketkeepers in cricket history. During Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) IPL 2025 clash against Mumbai Indians (MI) at Chepauk, Dhoni executed a breathtaking stumping of Suryakumar Yadav off Noor Ahmad’s delivery, leaving fans and experts in awe.
Former Australia batter and Dhoni’s ex-CSK teammate Matthew Hayden was highly impressed. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out, he praised Dhoni’s impeccable skills behind the stumps.
“He [Dhoni] was on fire. Noor Ahmad was firing down the leg side, and Dhoni’s movement across the ball was outstanding. Stumpings like these are tough, especially when partially obscured by the batsman. His timing, hands, and vision were simply exceptional. He’s still got it.”
A Crucial Dismissal
Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for 29 runs, breaking a 51-run stand and shifting momentum back to CSK. The dismissal played a key role in restricting MI to 155/9, helping CSK take control of the game.
The Secret to Dhoni’s Agility
Despite not being seen practicing much, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged Dhoni’s unmatched game sense. However, former CSK and India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla shed light on Dhoni’s methodical approach to keeping against new bowlers.
“It is a challenge to keep against someone new, but I’m sure Dhoni must have trained with Noor during the pre-season. He always ensures he takes a wristspinner to the stumps and keeps for 10-12 deliveries to understand their wrist position.”
You don’t need to look twice when MS Dhoni completes a stumping. 🔥pic.twitter.com/Zgvgri4gHM
— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) March 23, 2025
Revolutionizing Wicketkeeping
Former India pacer Varun Aaron emphasized how Dhoni has transformed the art of wicketkeeping. Traditionally, keepers receive the ball before attempting a stumping, but Dhoni’s technique is far more efficient.
“Dhoni has completely changed the way keepers react. He doesn’t receive the ball; he gathers it close to the stumps and swiftly removes the bails in one fluid motion.”
A Class Apart
Hayden compared Dhoni’s brilliance to an earlier match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, where Heinrich Klaasen missed a crucial stumping opportunity against Sanju Samson.
“Klaasen missed it, and everyone commented that if it was Dhoni, the batter would have been gone.”
Even as he edges towards the twilight of his career, Dhoni’s unmatched reflexes and game awareness continue to make an impact. His stumping against MI is yet another reminder that he remains a force to be reckoned with in the IPL.