The future of MS Dhoni in the Indian Premier League (IPL) remains shrouded in uncertainty, but his close friend and former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) teammate Suresh Raina has a clear wish: he wants the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman to stick around for another season to mentor the new CSK captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Dhoni stepped down as CSK captain ahead of IPL 2024, handing the reins to Gaikwad. While Gaikwad has shown promise, Raina believes that Dhoni’s guidance would be invaluable for his development as a leader.
Speaking to ‘Sports Tak’, Raina highlighted Dhoni’s impressive batting performance in the previous IPL season, suggesting that he has the ability to play for another year. “I want MS Dhoni to play in IPL 2025, considering how he batted last year. I feel Ruturaj Gaikwad needs one more year, the way he captained and a lot of things were said after the loss to RCB (Royal Challengers Bengaluru). However, Ruturaj has done a great job,” said Raina.
While Raina has retired from both international and IPL cricket, Dhoni continues to be a force on the field. Despite battling a knee injury last season, Dhoni played the role of a finisher, delivering some powerful cameos. He amassed 161 runs in 14 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 220.25.
The IPL is set to hold a mega players’ auction ahead of the 2025 season, and Dhoni’s decision to play or retire will likely depend on the player retention rules. “We have to see what decision they take on player retention, etc…So once the rules and regulations get formalised, I will take a call, but it needs to be in the best interest of the team (CSK),” Dhoni had stated earlier.
With the future of the ‘Captain Cool’ still undecided, cricket fans eagerly await Dhoni’s announcement, which could shape the landscape of IPL 2025.
