"You're not performing": MS Dhoni takes sly dig at Rohit Sharma with blunt 'captaincy' remarks

Chennai Super Kings keeper-batter MS Dhoni has come up with a bold statement amid the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. He said that there is no point in being the captain if the performance of the player is not good, adding that it becomes a problem for the team.

MS Dhoni's comments came in a conversation with JioHotstar, and it potentially was a subtle dig at India National Cricket Team skipper Rohit Sharma. The opening batter, since the last few months, hasn't been at his best with the bat and has struggled to score runs.

Rohit Sharma has struggled to get going

Especially in Test cricket, Rohit has struggled big time. The India National Cricket Team captain has been having a torrid run as he failed in the entire home season, struggling to score runs against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team as well as the New Zealand National Cricket Team.

After that, things got even worse for him as he looked clueless during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The India captain managed just 31 runs in the series, and following that, his place in the team in the format has come under massive scanner.

In the white-ball cricket too, Rohit hasn't been able to do what he has done all his career. He failed in the two games against England and notched up a century in one game. However, after that, he struggled in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as well but brought his best in the final.

Rohit Sharma played a brilliant innings of 76 runs in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand to take his team to win. Overall, he hasn't been able to match the standards that he has set for himself, and this has seen many questioning his place as captain.

Your performance should be right up there, then comes captaincy - MS Dhoni's dig at Rohit Sharma

Amid all the critics, MS Dhoni also came up with a massive statement. He said that even though the captaincy of a player is good if he is not performing, he becomes a burden on the team. He added that the performance should be right up there with the captaincy. He said:

"If your performance is not up to the mark and you are not performing but your captaincy is good - then it becomes a problem for the team. First and foremost, you need a performer as your captain. Your performance should be right up there, then comes captaincy."

Fans speculate MS Dhoni's comments were for Rohit Sharma

With MS Dhoni making such comments, fans speculated that it was a dig at Rohit Sharma, who of late has struggled to lead from the front. Here are some of the reactions:

Tag Rohit Sharma and SKY

— Only Option - Trader (@WithOnlyOption) March 24, 2025

Omg Indirectly Dhoni is saying to Rohit Sharma - Big insult never seen in my life

Unfit player cooked like butter chicken

— Chase Master (@AsliCricketer_) March 24, 2025

Indirectly troll to sharmaji😂

— Sumant Kumar Shah (@SumantShah356) March 24, 2025

Is He Targeting Rohit? 💀😁

— Mr_Cheeku (@Mr_Cheeku) March 24, 2025

MS Dhoni stepped down as the captain of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after winning the IPL 2023. Ahead of the IPL 2024, he handed over the leadership to Ruturaj Gaikwad and ended as the joint-most successful skipper in the league, winning five trophies.

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