MS Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already wrapped up a forgettable Indian Premier League (IPL)2025 season, but the debate about the legendary wicketkeeper batter MS Dhoni and his future has been growing with the 43-year-old continues to maintain secrecy over his chances of playing next season.
The chatter around MS Dhoni’s IPL future continued to dominate headlines as Chennai Super Kings took on Gujarat Titans in their final match of IPL 2025 on Sunday. While CSK were eliminated from the IPL 2025 playoffs race, the intrigue over MS Dhoni’s decision became a topic of discussion between both fans and experts.
MS Dhoni did not confirm whether he will be playing next season or not but social media was filled with fans having their say on the topic. While there were some who suggested that MS Dhoni should have retired earlier, an overwhelming majority asked him to continue playing in the competition.
MS Dhoni a nationwide rage during IPL 2023 playing for Chennai Super Kings
“CSK is Dhoni. Dhoni is CSK” Chennai Super Kings local boy now which hails from Ranchi. MS Dhoni is the only player to record 250 appearances in the cash-rich league. The 42-year-old has amassed 5082 runs with an average of 38.79. Thala Dhoni has smashed 24 half-centuries in his iconic IPL career. Under MS Dhoni’s talismanic captainship many youngsters got groomed from 2008 to 2023 who later went on to be part of Indian national team playing 11.
The advice to the youngsters of each team after the match from MS Dhoni is as value as of gold for upcoming talents who wait even if their teams wains or looses only to meet MS Dhoni. Year 2023 saw a nationwide rage with speculations around that finally it would be curtains for MS Dhoni the player in IPL as fans flocked to every venue in yellow to support MS Dhoni.
This overwhelmed support from the fans all round compelled MS Dhoni to return back to play for season 2024 only for the fans as stated by him in the presentation of the finals of 2023 where CSK won the title equaling Mumbai Indians(MI) tally of 5 IPL titles.
All said and done MS Dhoni who was seeing limping all round throughout IPL season 2023, to go back and have a knee surgery to be more fitter for at-least one more season
MS Dhoni’s IPL season in 2024 and 2025
A section of fans wondered if MS Dhoni had played his last match for CSK on Saturday, May 18 and whether his IPL career ended in a heartbreak. Dhoni’s valiant effort of 25 off 13 balls was not enough as the Super Kings crashed out of the playoffs race after losing to RCB by 27 runs in their must-win IPL 2024 match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Dhoni hit a 110m-six when CSK needed 17 runs in the last over bowled by Yash Dayal. Dhoni was not able to control his emotions as he was seen angry after getting out in the second delivery of the final over. Dhoni punched his bat while walking back to the dugout and was seen tensed in the dugout even as Yash Dayal completed a terrific final over and sealed the deal for RCB.
MS Dhoni was seen walking off the field after the customary post-match handshake as the disappointment on his face was visible after having missed a golden opportunity to seal another famous win for the Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Quite a few fans urged MS Dhoni not to retire after the heartbreaking defeat and urged the 42-year-old to continue playing in the IPL for at least one more year. A section of fans also pointed out that MS Dhoni’s international career also ended in heartbreak as India lost the ODI World Cup semi-final in 2019 to New Zealand after a fifty from the veteran wicketkeeper-batter. While Dhoni did not announce retirement after the match, he confirmed the end of his international career on August 15, 2020 in a famous Instagram post.
MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja came up with valiant efforts with the bat after CSK were reduced to 129 for 6 in the 15th over. Barring Rachin Ravindra (61) and Ajinkya Rahane (33), none of the other CSK batters were able to get going after RCB posted a mammoth total of 218 in 20 overs.
CSK needed 201 to reach the playoffs as the result did not matter for the 5-time champions. However, RCB did wonderfully well to restrict CSK to 191 for 7 in 20 overs. Jadeja remained unbeaten on 42 off 22, but his effort was not enough. If MS Dhoni announces retirement in the near future, he will end his IPL career as the joint-most successful captain. He would finish with 5243 runs in 264 matches and as the most successful captain in terms of win percentage, having led 226 times in the T20 league.
However as luck would have its say MS Dhoni aged 43 returned to play for CSK as uncapped player in 2025 eventually turning out to captain the side after 5 matches due to injury to regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad.MS Dhoni is the most capped player in IPL history. He was retained for Rs 4 crore by CSK ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auctions.
Although CSK ended their IPL 2025 campaign with a commanding win in their final league game, the 43-year-old MS Dhoni struggled to replicate his past form. MS Dhoni managed 196 runs in 14 matches at an average of 24.50. His strike rate of 135.17 marked a significant drop from the explosive 220.55 he recorded in the previous season.
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Robin Uthappa said that CSK legend MS Dhoni still wants to play for the franchise and he has the fire still burning within him to lift another title for the side.
Robin Uthappa drops major hint on MS Dhoni’s future post IPL 2025
Former India cricketer turned commentator Robin Uthappa has shared his thoughts on MS Dhoni’s IPL (Indian Premier League) future saying that the fire to win tournaments still burns bright in him. There have been widespread discussions around Dhoni’s future after his below-par performances for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025.
The five-time champions failed to qualify for the playoffs after he took over the leadership from the sixth game onwards and finished last for the first time in their IPL history. With murmurs of Dhoni’s retirement going all around, Robin Uthappa feels that the legendary captain still has the fire burning inside him to win championships and will have to train hard if he plans to return next season.
“It all depends on his health and how he feels. You have to understand that he really wants to play — the fire still burns. From what he said during the post-match presentation, it’s clear that the fire still burns to win championships, to play out there in the middle. Now it’s about going back and working on his body to bring it to the level he wants for the next IPL,” said Uthappa on JioStar
MS Dhoni was asked about his retirement plans after CSK’s win in their last game against Gujarat Titans (GT). The legendary wicketkeeper batter once again remained tight-lipped on his IPL future, saying that he still has 4-5 months to decide and there’s no hurry to arrive at a decision.
MS Dhoni finished the season with 196 runs from 13 innings at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 135.17. It remains to be seen if he will return for another season after having faced fitness issues over the past few years.
It was undoubtedly a forgettable season for the five-time champions, who finished at the bottom of the points table for the first time in their history. With just four wins to their name, CSK will be eager to build on the momentum from their final game and return to their usual standards in 2026
Also Read: CSK vs RR: The King Of Captain Cool’s Final Showdown- Will MS Dhoni Say Goodbye?