MS Dhoni Retained by Chennai Super Kings Ahead of IPL 2025 Auction, Emphasizes Performance over Age
Chennai, India – February 22, 2025: The eight-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champion, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has decided to retain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the former India captain, ahead of the upcoming IPL 2025 auction. This move comes as no surprise, given Dhoni’s impressive track record with the franchise, which has won five IPL titles under his leadership.
In an exclusive interview with a leading news channel, Dhoni spoke about his views on the IPL 2025 season, his role in the team, and the importance of performance over age. "I only play a couple of months in a year, but I want to enjoy it the way I started playing, that’s something that keeps me going," he said. "But, of course, for that, I need to put in a lot of hard work for six to eight months because IPL is one of the toughest tournaments. Nobody cares about how old you are. If you’re playing at this level, the level needs to be the same," he emphasized.
Dhoni’s retention by CSK is a testament to the franchise’s faith in his abilities, even at the age of… (let’s just say, a certain age). The first question that springs to mind is: How does one stay prepared for two months of intense cricket? According to Dhoni, it takes immense hard work to be fit and ready for the grind of the IPL. "I need to put in a lot of hard work for six to eight months because IPL is one of the toughest tournaments," he acknowledged.
In a candid conversation, Dhoni also spoke about his biggest motivation in his cricketing career. "When I started playing international cricket, for me the biggest motivation was representing my country," he revealed. "It has always been the country for me because coming from where I came, not known for cricket as a state, once I got a chance I wanted to contribute, I wanted to be part of a winning team that was trying to win every game, you’re trying to win the big tournaments, the bilateral series."
When Dhoni stepped down as the captain of the Indian national team in 2017, it marked the beginning of a new chapter in his cricketing journey. Since then, he has continued to play franchise cricket, and his experience has been nothing short of remarkable. In the upcoming season of the IPL, fans can expect to see the same energy and dedication from the Chennai Super Kings legend.
The match schedule for IPL 2025 has been released, and CSK will be seen in action when they take on the Mumbai Indians in their second game on March 23, 2025, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk. With Dhoni and the team gearing up for the action, fans can’t wait to see what the season has in store for them.
