MS Dhoni Retirement: Will the CSK Legend Continue Playing After the 2025 Season?

Any Official Confirmation Regarding Dhoni’s Retirement?

On Tuesday, social media buzzed with discussion about the topic “MS Dhoni retirement”, sparking rumors about whether “Thala” had officially taken leave from cricket. Intensifying the frenzy, posts went viral from MS Dhoni’s Instagram, highlighting his retirement with immediate effect, leaving fans in a state of confusion.

However, it turned out to be just an April Fool’s prank. There has been no official confirmation from Dhoni himself or anyone else regarding his retirement after the IPL season 2025. 

Many speculated that Dhoni would quit after the 2024 season, heading to a new cycle. However, the 43-year-old was retained after the 2025 mega-auction as an uncapped player for a compensation of just Rs. 5 crore.

More About Dhoni’s Future Plans

On Tuesday, MS Dhoni arrived in Chennai, aiming to help the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. CSK has created history and won the title for the sixth time under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad for the second successive season.

Dhoni’s entrance at Chennai buzzed around the cricket association with wide excitement around the nation to see India’s 2011 World Cup-winning captain return to action after a gap of a year.

Speculation about Dhoni’s future in the IPL has been running since his international retirement in 2020. While the former CSK captain has been questioned if he will play the season ahead for the last five seasons, he is yet to quit. Despite being the oldest active legend in the league, Dhoni continues to impress behind the stumps and remains as dangerous with the bat in the slog as ever.

Once again, Dhoni’s future is an intensified discussion regarding heading in the IPL 2025. With just a month remaining for the tournament to begin, the five-time IPL-winning legend’s T-Shirt has sparked retirement discussions. Users on social media have quickly deciphered that a “Morse Code” inscribed over Dhoni’s apparel meant “One Last Time.” 

Dhoni has been part of the CSK team since the inaugural season in 2008 and has continued every season the franchise has participated in the competition. The former Indian captain also competed for the Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016 and 2017 when the Chennai-based franchise was suspended for two years.

He is the third oldest player in the IPL history only behind Brad Hogg and Pravin Tambe. If the CSK legend plays an entire three-year cycle, he will become the oldest player in the league’s history in the upcoming 2027 season.

Dhoni has been the captain of CSK from the first season in 2008 to 2023. Under his leadership, the Yellow T-shirts lifted the title in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023. Dhoni stepped down from the role ahead of the 2024 season and handed over the key role to Ruturaj Gaikwad.