MS Dhoni's IPL future for CSK will depend on this particular condition of BCCI
Legendary cricketer MS Dhoni's future for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is still uncertain. It is believed that Dhoni's future in the IPL will depend on a particular condition if it is allowed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Dhoni is perhaps CSK's greatest-ever player and probably one of the greatest to have played IPL as well. His record as a captain has been phenomenal as he has led the Super Kings to five IPL trophies under his leadership.
Despite not playing any competitive cricket for the whole year, Dhoni has been able to compete with the best in the IPL for the last few years. For the last 4-5 years, there have been talks about his retirement from the IPL but the recent reports have clarified that Dhoni's retirement will depend on a particular condition.
MS Dhoni's IPL future for CSK will depend on this particular condition
According to Cricbuzz, MS Dhoni's retirement will depend on the number of retentions allowed for the IPL 2025 season. Currently, CSK are likely to retain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, and Shivam Dube. The order might not necessarily be the same.
If the BCCI allows more retentions, Dhoni is likely to continue playing in the IPL for at least the next year, otherwise, he will take on the role of a mentor, through which he will be able to put a significant influence on the team's running and operations from the dugout.
It is believed that CSK's co-owner N Srinivasan and MS Dhoni have already discussed this matter and the wicketkeeper-batter may continue to play if more retentions are allowed - five or six or more.
A lot will depend on BCCI's meeting with IPL team owners, which is scheduled to be held in Mumbai on July 13. Rupa Gurunath, who is the daughter of N Srinivasan, will be the representative on behalf of CSK. Many owners have various suggestions regarding the player retention policies and they are likely to present their views in front of the board.
CSK - Joint most successful team in IPL history
Dhoni does not play any competitive cricket for the whole year but when it comes to the IPL, he comes back to his beloved team Chennai Super Kings. The legendary World Cup-winning captain has been associated with the franchise since its inception in 2008.
In the first year, Chennai Super Kings finished runners-up to Rajasthan Royals when they lost a thriller in the last ball. But that didn't deter their confidence as they became the most consistent team in the IPL history.
CSK's first IPL title came in 2010 and they defended their title next year as well. They had to wait for seven more years for their next IPL title and they finally won it in 2018. Then, they defeated a resurgent KKR in 2021 to win their fourth IPL title.
Chennai won its last and most recent IPL title in 2023 when they defeated Gujarat Titans in the final on the last ball of the match. All of their titles came under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. They are the joint-most successful franchise in the history of the IPL.
