"That's my franchise..." MS Dhoni clears airs on his future with CSK in IPL

MS Dhoni will play his 18th IPL season this year.

MS Dhoni, legendary wicket-keeper and captain, has cleared the air about his relationship and future with his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Dhoni will appear for CSK in IPL 2025 and this will be his 18th IPL season.

CSK will open their IPL 2025 against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) on March 23 in an evening match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

When former CSK captain Dhoni wore a T-shirt with the words “One Last Time,” printed in Morse Code, it fueled rumors that he was retiring. Ahead of the highly anticipated match against MI, the wicket-keeper batter said he may stay with the team for as long as he likes.

Since 2021, there have been rumors that Dhoni might retire from the IPL. The 43-year-old, however, kept competing in the tournament. With their most recent triumph being in 2023, the wicket-keeper-batter has guided CSK to five league victories. Dhoni has played in 264 IPL matches, making him the player with the most caps.

I can play for as long as I want for CSK – MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni finally spoke out about retirement rumors prior to CSK’s matchup with MI at Chepauk. He said he could play for CSK for as long as he wanted to.

The 43-year-old emphasized the close relationship he has with the team and stated that they are not prepared to part ways. In a hilarious addition, Dhoni said that CSK would persuade him to play another season even if he were disabled or injured.

“I can play for as long as I want for CSK. That’s my franchise. Even if I’m in a wheelchair, they’ll drag me,” he said while speaking to JioHotstar.

Even though Dhoni doesn’t accomplish much for CSK, his presence alone has a significant impact. He hit a boundary every 2.7 balls while batting at eight or lower and amassed 161 runs at a strike rate of 220 last season. He has given himself that responsibility in addition to the wicket-keeping responsibilities.

Dhoni was retained by CSK as an uncapped player with a wage cap of ₹4 crores after the BCCI reinstated an outdated regulation. As a lower-order batsman and wicket-keeper behind the wickets, the seasoned veteran will be vital to CSK.

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