At the age of 43, Mahendra Singh Dhoni continues to demonstrate why he is regarded as one of the greatest wicketkeepers in cricket history. In a high-stakes IPL 2025 encounter between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Dhoni’s exceptional reflexes behind the stumps brought an abrupt end to Phil Salt’s explosive innings, leaving fans and spectators in awe.
Salt, who was in scintillating form, had raced to a brisk 32 runs off just 16 deliveries, including five fours and a six. His aggressive approach at the crease was suddenly halted by Dhoni’s sheer brilliance.
Facing a cleverly disguised googly from Noor Ahmad, Salt attempted a drive but was deceived by the turn. As he momentarily lifted his back foot to regain balance, Dhoni, with lightning-fast reflexes, whipped off the bails in a flash. The decision was referred to the third umpire, and replays confirmed what everyone suspected — Salt’s foot was indeed in the air when Dhoni executed the dismissal. The stadium erupted in cheers as yet another masterclass from Dhoni was added to his illustrious list of iconic stumpings.
This moment echoed Dhoni’s brilliance from CSK’s season opener against Mumbai Indians, where he had stunned Suryakumar Yadav with an equally breathtaking stumping. Despite his age, the 43-year-old legend continues to outshine younger wicketkeepers with his unmatched agility and sharp cricketing acumen.
With each such moment, Dhoni reinforces his status as a generational wicketkeeping genius, proving that in his case, age is merely a number. His performance in this match further cements his legacy as one of the finest in the sport.