In the cricket world, fans eagerly await the new IPL season 2025, and speculation continues to swirl around the future of former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni. At 43, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter remains a force to reckon with, displaying his trademark power-hitting in CSK’s net sessions.
We will get glimpses of MS Dhoni’s brilliance- Robin Uthappa
During a recent training session, Dhoni showcased his match readiness by sending a yorker from Matheesha Pathirana over the bowler’s head with his iconic helicopter shot. Robin Uthappa who was having an interaction with JioStar believes fans will witness Dhoni’s brilliance again this season, with the veteran likely to bat at No.7 or 8, optimizing his impact in limited deliveries.
“As far as Mahi is concerned, I think we will get glimpses of his brilliance because I have a feeling that he might bat at number 7 or 8. Very much like last year, and we will see him bat between 12 and 20 balls through the season,” said Uthappa.
Will MS Dhoni Retire After IPL 2025?
Despite retirement speculations, Uthappa refrained from predicting Dhoni’s future in IPL. He emphasized Dhoni’s unwavering passion for the game, stating that his love for cricket remains intact.
“I don’t think the passion ever dies. MS’ love for the game has not dwindled at all. I think his passion for the game keeps him going. At 43, I think he’s got the fastest hands in the world as a wicketkeeper,” he added.
While Uthappa admitted that Dhoni could retire at the end of the season, he wouldn’t be surprised if the CSK icon continues playing for another few years.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Eye Strong Comebacks
The upcoming IPL season will also mark the return of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to T20 cricket after their triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. Uthappa is confident both players will have a stellar season.
“I don’t think they’ll have even an iota of issues to come out there and smash the living daylights out of bowlers. Virat has really come through in good form. He’s familiar with conditions in Bangalore that he’s always going to thrive there,” Uthappa commented.
He also expressed optimism about Rohit Sharma’s form, predicting a strong comeback in the IPL.
“In the recent past, Rohit hasn’t lived up to his potential as the incredibly dynamic batter that he is in the IPL. But it looks like everything is going his way at this point in time. So, I wouldn’t put it past him to have one of his best seasons in the IPL,” he added.
Challenges Await New IPL Captains
This IPL season will see Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) led by first-time captains Axar Patel and Rajat Patidar, respectively. Uthappa believes both players face significant challenges but expects them to adapt to their leadership roles.
“Axar will be in a little bit better stead because even with the new-ish side, there’s still a lot of familiar faces. With Rajat also, it’s a similar situation. But Rajat will have to contend with the superstardom of Kohli within that side. So, he can lean on Kohli’s captaincy skills a lot,” he noted.
Additionally, managing home conditions will be crucial for these new captains, especially in high-scoring venues like Delhi and Bengaluru.
“The challenges would be home conditions. How do you win in home conditions? Especially both in similar venues like Delhi and in Bangalore—small grounds, high-scoring grounds, no real home advantage. So, they’ll have to figure out a solution for that as leaders,” Uthappa concluded.