Will MS Dhoni play IPL in 2025? CSK batting coach Michael Hussey reveals

MS Dhoni has smashed 136 runs at a strike rate of over 200 in the ongoing IPL 2024.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting coach Michael Hussey has opined about wicket-keeper batter MS Dhoni’s future in the Indian Premier League (IPL). During Dhoni’s stint as captain for CSK, the franchise won record-equaling five titles become the joint-most successful IPL team after the Mumbai Indians.

Dhoni-led Chennai defeated Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2023 final and clinched their fifth title. During the post-match presentation ceremony, Harsha Bhogle asked if the legendary cricketer would take retirement from the IPL or not.

In reply, Dhoni smiled and said, “Circumstantially, if you see, this is the best time to announce my retirement. But the amount of love and affection I have been shown wherever I have been this year, the easy thing would be for me to say ‘Thank you very much,’ but the tough thing for me is to work hard for another nine months and come back and play at least one more season of IPL.”

Ahead of the IPL 2024, the cricket world was shocked as the five-time IPL winning skipper Dhoni stepped down as CSK captain and handed it to Ruturaj Gaikwad.

In the ongoing tournament, despite having knee issues, the 42-year-old Dhoni has kept his word and has featured in all the matches CSK has played till now. However, the legendary cricketer hasn’t made any official statement regarding his retirement plan.

We are hoping he does keep going: Michael Hussey on MS Dhoni

Ahead of their last league stage match of the ongoing IPL 2024 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 18 in Bengaluru, CSK batting coach Michael Hussey has talked about Dhoni’s future in the IPL.

“Your guess is as good as mine at this stage. He keeps his cards very, very close to his chest. We are hoping he does keep going,” Hussey said on ESPN’s Around the Wicket show when asked if Dhoni would be back next year.

In the ongoing season, Dhoni has smashed 136 runs in 13 matches at an average of 68. Dhoni has been playing down the order as Chennai is managing his workload as the wicket-keeper batter underwent knee surgery after the end of IPL 2023. CSK batting coach Hussey also added that the MSD is batting very well and the team management needs to manage his workload.

“He is still batting so well. He does prepare well – he gets into the camp very early and hits a lot of balls. He has been in good touch all season really. I guess we just got to try to manage him from the body side of things. He had a knee surgery after the last season. So he has been managing that from the initial stage of the tournament,” Michael Hussey added.

Hussey also shared his personal opinion regarding Dhoni’s future in the IPL. Hussey expressed that he wants Dhoni to continue for a few more years. The CSK batting coach also stressed that only Dhoni will make the call regarding his future in the cash-rich league.

“From a personal point of view, I hope he keeps going for another couple of years. But we will just have to wait and see. He is the only one who will make that call. And he likes to sort of build the drama a little bit as well. So I wouldn’t expect a decision anytime soon,” Hussey said.

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