Courtesy: CSK
Chennai Super Kings, the five-time IPL champions, retained their former captain MS Dhoni as one of their five players for only INR 4 Crore with him being ruled as an uncapped player ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Despite that, there is that uncertainty about how long MS Dhoni, 43, will be playing in the league, but in a latest interview, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan seemed confident about the former Indian captain continuing to play for them for as long as he wants.
Notably, MS Dhoni is currently in the twilight of his playing days, and he has been dealing with recurring knee issues for quite some time. After leading Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL title in 2023, MS Dhoni underwent a procedure on his knee at a private hospital in Mumbai, but despite that, during the last season, he wasn’t moving smoothly on the field on many occasions, especially in the latter half of the tournament.
As long as MS wants to play, the doors are open: Kasi Viswanathan
During a chat with Ambati Rayudu on Provoke TV, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan addressed the future of MS Dhoni with the franchise and IPL as a whole. He was quoted as saying, as per NDTV Sport, “"As far as Mahi bhai (brother) is concerned, you know he keeps everything to himself. It comes out at the last moment only. Knowing the passion he has for CSK, and also knowing the following he has, and he also mentioned in one of the interviews that he'll play his last game in Chennai, we're hoping that he will continue as far as CSK is concerned.”
“As long as MS wants to play, the doors are open. Knowing him, his commitment, and his dedication, I'm sure he'll always take the right decision,” Kasi Viswanathan further mentioned. With such a great relationship between MS Dhoni and the CSK officials, it is highly likely that the former Indian captain tries to extend his playing career as long as possible, to help the team transition into a force that it once was under his leadership.
Moreover, MS Dhoni also spoke about his future plans as a player during a recent event in Goa and remarked, “I just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I am able to play, like when we used to go out to play at 4 pm during our childhood, simply enjoying the game. But in professional sport, it becomes challenging to enjoy it as just a game. There are emotions and commitments, but I want to enjoy it for the next few years.”
