**MS Dhoni Hints at Playing Cricket for "A Few More Years", CSK in IPL 2025
MS Dhoni, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter, has hinted that he may still be around to play cricket for "a few more years" after the current IPL season. Speaking at the launch of his new app in Mumbai, Dhoni expressed his desire to enjoy the game like a child, without any pressure or stress. The 40-year-old cricketer has been retired from international cricket since 2019, but continues to play for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Indian cricket legend, who has been associated with CSK since 2018, made it clear that he wants to make the most of the time he has left in the sport, playing without any expectations or pressures. "I want to enjoy it, how I did as a child when I was in school. When I lived in a colony, 4 o’clock was sports time, so we’d go and play cricket more often than not. But if the weather didn’t permit, we used to play football. I want to play with the same kind of innocence… but it is easier said than done," Dhoni said.
At the event, Dhoni was quoted by PTI, saying, "I’ve retired since 2019, so it will be quite some time. What I’ve been doing in the meantime is I just want to enjoy cricket for the last, whatever few years, you know, I will be able to play."
However, Dhoni’s future in cricket has been a subject of controversy, with the Indian cricket board (BCCI) changing the rule regarding the selection of team captains. The change means that internationally retired cricketers, like Dhoni, are now considered "uncapped" for selection purposes. This change led to a significant decrease in Dhoni’s salary for the upcoming IPL season, from Rs. 12 crores to Rs. 4 crores.
Despite this, Dhoni remains a key figure in CSK, with his experience and leadership qualities still highly valued by the team. His presence will be essential for the team’s youngsters, particularly fast bowler Ruturaj Gaikwad, with whom he has developed a strong bonding.
Dhoni’s statement has sparked a lot of interest, with many speculating that this could be his last season in the IPL. However, he has not ruled out the possibility of playing for a few more years, saying, "For me as a cricketer, I always wanted to perform for the Indian cricket team because I’ve said that in the past also, that not everybody gets a chance to represent the country."
He added, "For us as cricketers, whenever we went on to the big stage or whenever we were touring, there was a chance for us to win laurels for the country and so for me it was the country that always came first. You always need to figure out what is good for you. When I was playing, I made sure that cricket was a whole for me — nothing else mattered. What time I had to sleep? What time I had to get up? What impact it had on my cricket, that was the most important thing."
He emphasized that friendships and fun can happen later, but for now, he wants to focus on his cricket. "You know, all the friendships, the fun, all those [things] can happen later. There is a right time for everything and I felt if you are able to recognize that, that’s the best thing you can do (for yourself)," Dhoni concluded.
CSK’s first match of IPL 2025 is scheduled to be against Mumbai Indians on March 23. The match is highly anticipated, with fans eager to see Dhoni in action one last time, or at least, for a few more years.
