IPL 2025: Chennai Super Kings icon MS Dhoni is yet to confirm his availability for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), CEO Kasi Viswanathan has revealed. After CSK crashed out of the group stages of IPL 2024, Dhoni remained tight-lipped about joining the next edition of the cash-rich league.
As the IPL 2025 mega auction approaches, CSK CEO Viswanathan is hoping that one of their most decorated players will be confirmed and return for another dance by October 31.
“We haven’t got his confirmation yet, but we hope he will continue to play for us. Hopefully he will confirm it before the 31st [October]”October 31 is the date for all ten teams to submit their reserved rosters to the IPL ahead of the mega auction,” Viswanathan told ESPNcricinfo.
In the upcoming edition, CSK may choose to retain Dhoni as an unavailable player after the rule change. The IPL has brought back the rules that were abolished in 2021, according to which a player can be considered uncapped even if he retires from international cricket for five years.
If Dhoni confirms his availability, the 43-year-old is likely to be retained by CSK as an uncapped player. CSK only needs to come up with Rs 4 crore from its Rs 120-crore purse. All IPL teams can retain up to six players ahead of the IPL mega auction in 2025.
Dhoni’s last appearance in an India jersey came in the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand when the Men in Blue suffered heartbreak.
After retiring in 2020, Dhoni did not play any other tournament apart from the IPL. In the 2024 season, Dhoni scored 161 runs at a strike rate of 220, playing the role of finisher for the five-time champions.