Will MS Dhoni play in IPL 2025? 'We still have no confirmation,' says CSK CEO

MS Dhoni’s participation in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) is still not a guarantee as his franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is still waiting to hear from him. This shocking development has been confirmed by none other than CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan.

CSK waiting for Dhoni’s call

While many expected that IPL 2024 would be Dhoni’s last in the cash-rich T20 league as he also gave up the captaincy for Ruturaj Gaikwad, the five-time winner, all of them as a captain, has still not made any disclosure.

Read: IPL 2025 auction to be held outside India in November end

CSK is hopeful that Dhoni will confirm his participation before 31 October, the last date for IPL franchises to submit their list of retained players ahead of the mega auction.

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“We have still no confirmation from him, though we will like him to continue playing for us. Hope he will confirm before 31st [October],” Viswanathan told ESPNcricinfo.

Read: Players likely to be retained by champions KKR and other teams

For the upcoming edition, CSK has the option to retain Dhoni as an uncapped player after a change in rules. IPL brought back the rule that was scrapped in 2021, according to which players could be considered uncapped even if they had retired from international cricket for five years.

Dhoni to be retained as uncapped player

If Dhoni confirms his availability, then it is highly likely that the 43-year-old will be retained by CSK as an uncapped player. CSK will need to shell out just Rs 4 crore from their purse of Rs 120 crore. All IPL franchises are allowed to retain up to six players before the IPL 2025 mega auction.

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Dhoni’s last appearance in India colours was in the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, when the Men in Blue suffered a heartbreak.

After his retirement in 2020, Dhoni didn’t feature in any other tournament apart from the IPL. In the 2024 season, Dhoni garnered 161 runs at a strike rate of 220 as he played the role of a finisher for the five-time champions.

With agency inputs