MS Dhoni Opens Up On Retirement: The MS Dhoni-mania is set to hit the IPL once again as Chennai Super Kings will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign on Sunday evening, hosting their arch-rivals Mumbai Indians at the Chepauk.
Both teams failed to reach the playoffs last season, and both would be looking to add to their tally of five IPL titles each.
But, as has been the case over the last few years, the question remains in the minds of the fans: Will this year be MS Dhoni’s last IPL season? The ‘Thala’ has now opened up on his IPL retirement.
While Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020, he’s continued to feature in the IPL for CSK. Ahead of IPL 2024, he had handed over the captaincy duties to Ruturaj Gaikwad, and it felt like it was his last season.
However, the 43-year-old is set to turn up in the yellow jersey once again this season and has hinted that he could even stretch his IPL career beyond IPL 2025.
Last year, Dhoni pigeonholed his finisher’s role into an even briefer period as he came out only in the last few overs and swung almost at everything. And he did it with plenty of success: he faced 73 balls and whacked 161 runs, recording a strike rate of 220, walloping 14 fours and 13 sixes.
Even if I’m in a wheelchair, they’ll drag me: MS Dhoni Opens Up On Retirement
Ahead of CSK’s opening encounter of the season against MI, Dhoni said that he can play for CSK as long as he wishes to, and the franchise would be willing to play him even if he is in a wheelchair.
“I can play for as long as I want for CSK. That’s my franchise. Even if I’m in a wheelchair, they’ll drag me,” Dhoni said while speaking to JioHotstar.
Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, the BCCI reintroduced the rule of franchises being allowed to retain Indian players who had not played international cricket for more than five years as uncapped players. Therefore, CSK could retain Dhoni for the price of an uncapped player, which is INR 4 crore.
CSK skipper Gaikwad, too, reckoned Dhoni could play for more than one season.
“So, definitely that always will be there. If you see now, even Sachin Tendulkar is batting as great as he is right now, even at the age of 50 [51]. So, I think there are still many years to go,” Gaikwad said.
“So, whatever he is doing at the age of 43, I think it is remarkable. It is really commendable. And definitely, he will be looking to contribute in the best way he can.”
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