IPL 2025: Will MS Dhoni announce his retirement ahead of the next season or CSK retain MS Dhoni if he choose to play? Top reasons why MS Dhoni should play IPL 2025.
At the end of every IPL season for the last few years, the biggest question that did the round is whether MS Dhoni will play the next edition as well? And Dhoni always gave a hint or two about his participation in the next IPL season before the edition wrapped up. But this time, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have had to face an exit in the league stage, leaving questions about Dhoni’s future in the IPL hanging in the balance.
Although Dhoni has not come up with a statement about his retirement from the league, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has said the management is “very, very hopeful” that Dhoni will be available for the next season. But the decision whether Dhoni will play next season or not rests entirely on the legendary player. “It is a question which only MS can answer,” Viswanathan said.
Abrupt retirement calls have been MS Dhoni’s trend
Going by Dhoni’s trend of retiring from any format of the game, it could be taken for granted that Dhoni could put an abrupt end to his IPL career anytime he feels his time is over. Remember his retirement from Test cricket in the middle of a tour Down Under or just posting a tweet to announce his exit from international cricket a year after the 2019 World Cup. He also might just say, “I’m not done yet” and play another IPL season. Hence, it is difficult to read Dhoni’s mind whether or not he will play the next IPL season.
The tell-tale signs: Another season on the cards?
However, indications are that he will come back again for the next season. In a press conference a few years ago, he mentioned he would like to play his last game in Chennai, irrespective of when it happens. As Dhoni could not have a fairytale end to his career in IPL 2024, he might just have another go next season.
But emotions apart, Dhoni has a lot of time to decide on his IPL career. His exploits with the bat and gloves in IPL 2024 show he still has a lot of cricket left in him. In IPL 2024, Dhoni batted and kept wickets with a muscle injury as Chennai’s back-up keeper Devon Conway was not available due to an injury. Hence, Dhoni batted lower down the order, and came out to bat to face a few balls to give the innings a flourish or finish off a chase.
MS Dhoni’s late flourishes and calming presence increases utility
In 14 matches, MS Dhoni faced only 73 balls, which is an average of 5.21 balls per match. And he managed to score 161 runs at an average of 53.67 and a strike rate of 220.55, with 14 fours and 13 sixes. He also took 10 catches behind the stumps. His strike rate of 220.55 and the number of fours and sixes he smacked in the death over shows that he still has good reflexes to score at a fast pace and be beneficial to the team even a year later.
Hence, in the next season, a fit Dhoni can be dangerous with the bat. He can play the role of a finisher while batting higher up the order. His presence also lends a balance to the XI, and adds batting depth.
Dhoni’s presence in the dressing room also keeps the atmosphere calm in pressure situations. He can also mentor the young players who can learn a lot just by sharing the dressing room with the legendary player in IPL 2025. Hence, Dhoni is likely to play a bigger role next season.
MS Dhoni needs to stick around for CSK’s full transition
Besides, Ruturaj Gaikwad is still a work-in-progress as a skipper, and might need Dhoni’s presence in the field to guide and support him. The ongoing season was not just the learning phase for captain Gaikwad, it was also a transition phase for the players in the Chennai camp.
There were loopholes, such as the lack of a stable batting line-up, that need to be fixed in the next season. Chennai kept experimenting with their openers, while Gaikwad kept making the adjustment of opening or playing one down. The foreign players need proper guidance next season in terms of their role clarity and expectations. Having Dhoni in the dressing room next season could be the best support for the squad to deal with such questions.
Hence, Dhoni’s presence next season is important for Chennai’s transition phase to be a success. The legendary player can then leave CSK as a winning team before hanging up his boots.