Dhoni, who is the captain leading the legendary Indian and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricket team, has dropped a massive hint that he will not hang his boots in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the year 2025 and even in the coming years. At a casual 43-year-old MS Dhoni, the former Indian cricket captain has seemingly allayed any speculation surrounding his retirement, as he revealed his desire to remain fit in order to play the sport for ‘a few years to come’. Going by his words, Dhoni does not only seem to fit into the plan of CSK for IPL 2025 but also the whole three-year period for which the team will be after the mega auction, ever after his own retirement.
“I just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I am able to play,” said Dhoni in the recent promotional event of software brand Rigi, of which he is the brand ambassador, as reported by Times of India.
“When you play cricket like a professional sport, it becomes difficult to enjoy it just like a game. That is what I want to do. It’s not easy. The emotions keep coming, the commitments are there. For the next few years, I want to enjoy the game,” Dhoni stated.
Needless to say, the next thing Dhoni mentioned made it crystal clear that IPL is certainly on his mind.
“I have to keep myself fit for nine months, so that I can play two and half months of IPL. You need to plan it out, but at the same time chill a bit,” said Dhoni.
Dhoni handed over CSK’s captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of IPL 2024. However, considering he is a five-time IPL-winning captain and as of now still the biggest name of the tournament, it is good news for the IPL that he is not retiring.
Since Dhoni’s last appearance for Team India was over five years back, CSK is free to sign him on as an un-capped player at just four crore rupees. This was made possible by the reintroduction of a rule that had been abolished the previous year in 2021.
