IPL 2025: Matthew Hayden includes MS Dhoni as he names his top five players to watch out for this season

Matthew Hayden played for three years under MS Dhoni’s captaincy in the IPL from 2008-2010.

The 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has so far lived up to expectations. After a few one-sided affairs, the league came to life on March 24, with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) playing one of the all-time great contests.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have posted the highest score of the tournament so far – 286/6. However, many critics as well as former cricketers believe that the tournament will see a score of 300 this year.

Amid the ongoing cricket caravan, former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has picked his top five players to watch out for this season. The Queensland-born has also included his former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) teammate MS Dhoni in the list.

Dhoni, who made headlines for his lightning-fast 0.12-second stumping of Suryakumar Yadav in CSK’s season opener against Mumbai Indians, also came to the crease for batting in the second innings. However, he did not score a run in his unbeaten two-ball stay.

Matthew Hayden includes MS Dhoni as he names his top five players to watch out for this season

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Hayden named Virat Kohli, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, and MS Dhoni as his top five players to watch out for in the ongoing season.

Hayden said, “May not fit in the young guns category, but Virat Kohli definitely is going to sit in that space someone always interesting.“

The former Australian opener also picked SRH openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma as two exciting prospects for the season.

“Travis Head dominates in the powerplay against everyone. Abhishek Sharma will most certainly be there as well in that partnership, which is simply game-changing for me.“

The 53-year-old identified finishers Heinrich Klaasen and MS Dhoni as dangerous batsmen at the back end of the innings.

“In the same category, I am expecting big things from Heinrich Klaasen. He has really set a new parameter for how to play backfoot shots, anchor through the middle, and smash down the ground against spin.“

“And not a new name as well, but for me, if you have Kohli, you have to have Dhoni as well. Dhoni at the back end. I’ll say this will be his last season. This is as much a wish of good hope as anything else, but I would love to see Dhoni at the back end smashing sixes.“

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