MS Dhoni may have played his last match for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Even the rumour of this would shock the cricket community, especially diehard CSK and Dhoni fans. The signs have been there for a while. When the wicketkeeper-batter retired from international cricket, it was clear this day would come.
His knee injury in 2023 brought this future closer, and handing the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad confirmed it. Yet, after every game, Dhoni was still full of energy, defying age, injuries, and expectations. Dhoni still wants to wear the yellow jersey again, but this time, it might not be up to him.
Are MS Dhoni’s playing days over?
The legendary captain’s participation in the IPL 2025 season doesn’t depend on his fitness or form but on a meeting. The upcoming discussion between the BCCI and the IPL franchise owners on July 31 will decide his future.
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According to Cricbuzz, Dhoni has talked about his future with the franchise owner, N Srinivasan. They agreed that Dhoni’s participation in the next season will depend on the number of players the franchise can retain before the IPL 2025 mega auction.
After the meeting in Mumbai, we’ll know how many players each franchise can keep. If the number is five or more, Dhoni will continue as CSK’s wicketkeeper. However, if they can only retain four or fewer players, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, and Shivam Dube will be chosen over Dhoni.
One thing is certain: Dhoni will continue to be the face of CSK. If he doesn’t play in the IPL 2025 season, he will still be in the dugout as their mentor. Dhoni and CSK have been linked since the league started in 2008, and that partnership won’t end soon. His role might change, but he’ll always be at the centre of the Chennai Super Kings.