The question on every cricket fan’s mind during every IPL season is whether MS Dhoni will hang up his boots. This year is no different. As the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League progresses, speculation around Dhoni’s retirement has gained traction once again. But this time, the Chennai Super Kings legend has addressed it himself—confirming that he has no plans to retire mid-season.
In a recent podcast conversation with Raj Shamani, Dhoni spoke openly about his future with the IPL. The five-time IPL-winning captain clarified that he intends to complete the 2025 season and will only decide on his future after assessing his fitness over the next 10 months.
“Not right now,” said Dhoni when asked about retirement. “I’m still playing IPL, and I’ve kept it very simple: I take it one year at a time. I’ll be 44 in July. I’ve got 10 months to think about whether I’ll play one more year. It’s not me who decides—it’s the body that tells you if you can or cannot.”
Dhoni, who has stepped away from all formats of international cricket, now exclusively plays the IPL and keeps a low public profile otherwise. Despite his legendary status, his batting role has significantly changed this season. In Chennai Super Kings’ first few matches, he has come out to bat unusually late in the order, often at No.9. Fans were surprised when even Ravichandran Ashwin was promoted above him in a recent match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
In the match against Delhi Capitals, Dhoni walked in at a crucial stage with CSK chasing 184. Despite scoring an unbeaten 30 off 26 balls, he couldn’t steer the team to victory. CSK’s performance so far has been below par—they have won only one of their first four matches this season, their lone win coming against Mumbai Indians.
While fans continue to speculate about the end of Dhoni’s glittering IPL career, his comments suggest he’s fully committed to the present. The clarity that he will not retire during the 2025 season provides a sigh of relief to his massive fanbase. However, whether this will be his final IPL appearance still remains uncertain.
CSK, under Dhoni’s leadership, has lifted the IPL trophy five times. His contribution to the team goes beyond just runs—his experience, calmness, and leadership remain invaluable assets. With the team off to a shaky start, many hope that Dhoni can once again inspire a mid-season turnaround.
The coming months will reveal whether the cricketing world gets to witness Dhoni’s signature finishing flair one last time—or whether he’ll surprise fans by returning yet again in 2026.
