IPL Auction 2025: MS Dhoni confirmed to play beyond next season as CSK CEO drops bombshell

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO Kasi Viswanathan has kept the doors open for the legendary captain and wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni to play beyond the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.

Kasi Viswanathan said that MS Dhoni, who keeps the cards close to his chest, can play for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as long as he wants to.

CSK retained five players ahead of the IPL auction

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have retained five players ahead of the Indian Premier League 2025 mega auction. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja have been retained in the top bracket and both will be paid INR 18 crore each.

The express pacer Matheesha Pathirana has been retained for INR 13 crore and the star all-rounder Shivam Dube has been retained for INR 12 crore.

CSK's fifth and final retention is the legendary skipper MS Dhoni, who has been retained for INR 4 crore. Notably, Dhoni has been retained in the uncapped category.

Meanwhile, CSK have a lot of work to do when they enter the mega auction on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 1,574 players have registered for the auction and the BCCI will now shortlist players.

Also Read: IPL Auction 2025: Ruturaj Gaikwad to be replaced by Rishabh Pant as CSK captain? Franchise CEO reveals

As far as Mahi bhai (brother) is concerned, you know he keeps everything to himself - CSK CEO on MS Dhoni

Speaking to Ambati Rayudu on Provoke TV, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said that they are not in the mood to part ways with MS Dhoni, and the legendary skipper will make the final call on his future whenever he wants to. He said:

"As far as Mahi bhai (brother) is concerned, you know he keeps everything to himself. It comes out at the last moment only. Knowing the passion he has for CSK, and also knowing the following he has, and he also mentioned in one of the interviews that he'll play his last game in Chennai, we're hoping that he will continue as far as CSK is concerned. As long as MS wants to play, the doors are open. Knowing him, his commitment, and his dedication, I'm sure he'll always take the right decision."

Initially, we had conversations with both Ruturaj the captain and also MS along with Fleming - CSK CEO

Kasi Viswanathan further spoke about the retentions of the CSK ahead of the IPL mega auction. He stated that they decided to retain their core after having discussions with MS Dhoni, team captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, and head coach Stephen Fleming.

"As always, you (Rayudu) know better than me about the culture at CSK in the sense that we have always tried to have the core of the team. Initially, we had conversations with both Ruturaj, the captain and also MS, along with Fleming before we decided on the retentions.

"And, we were very clear that the players would help the team to grow, (those) who had stabilized the team in the previous years. It was very easy to decide on the retentions. Ruturaj, Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja), who has had a great impact on CSK, and MS you don't have to talk about, and Shivam Dube, which we had groomed, and MS had groomed," he said.

"So, we thought we should stick with them. As all of us know, Pathirana is going to be a bowler who is going to be really useful for any team he goes (to), so we thought he'll be another one whom we can retain," he added.