"He is ready.." CSK CEO confirms MS Dhoni will play in IPL 2025

MS Dhoni can be retained in the uncapped category for INR 4 crores.

Kasi Viswanathan, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO, has confirmed that former captain MS Dhoni will feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.

This merely seemed a formality: once the BCCI brought back the rule that would allow CSK to retain Dhoni as an uncapped player for only INR 4 crores, it felt inevitable that the 43-year-old would be retained.

An unofficial announcement from Dhoni came recently when he said he is looking to enjoy the “last few years” of his cricket.

The former India captain explained the importance of keeping himself fit for nine months of the year when he is not on the field – Dhoni doesn’t play domestic cricket – that would be vital in his performance during the IPL.

The emotions keep coming, the commitments are there: MS Dhoni

Dhoni was quoted as saying by Times Of India, “I just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I am able to play. When you play cricket like a professional sport, it becomes difficult to enjoy it just like a game. That’s what I want to do. It’s not easy.

“The emotions keep coming, the commitments are there. I want to enjoy the game for the next few years. I have to keep myself fit for nine months, so that I can play two and a half months of IPL. You need to plan it out, but at the same time chill a bit.”

After Dhoni’s confirmation, a relieved CSK CEO told Cricbuzz, “When he is ready, what else (do) we want. We are happy.”

Last month, the IPL Governing Council announced the player rules and regulations for the IPL 2025 mega auction and beyond. In it, the IPL GC said that a capped Indian player will become uncapped if he has not played international cricket in the last five calendar years preceding the year in which the relevant season is held.

Since Dhoni’s last game for India was in the 2019 World Cup, he is eligible to be retained as an uncapped player, whose slab is only INR 4 crores.

Apart from Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Matheesha Pathirana are all but certain to be retained by CSK.

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