How much money has CSK retained MS Dhoni for ahead of IPL 2025 Auction?
Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni will be back in the IPL after the franchise retained him as their lone 'Uncapped Player' for the minimum price in the category of ₹4 crores on October 31. Having not played international cricket in over five years, Dhoni fell into the Uncapped Player bucket, allowing CSK to buy his services for a lower price.
The 43-year-old dealt with a niggle in his knee, resulting in him predominantly batting lower down the order for CSK in IPL 2024. Yet, Dhoni displayed incredible ball-striking form to finish with an average of over 53 and a strike rate of 220.54 in 14 games.
Despite facing only 73 balls, the champion gloveman cleared the boundary at will with 13 maximums. Dhoni, who handed over captaincy duties to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the 2024 season, also effected 10 catches behind the stumps with his glovework.
Yet, his consistent late-game heroics could not help CSK qualify for the playoffs, missing a top-four finish after a heartbreaking loss in their final round-robin outing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
The veteran cricketer captained CSK to all five IPL titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023 and remains the league's most successful captain with 133 wins.
"I just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I'm able to play" - MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni stated that he wanted to enjoy the game in his final few years as a professional cricket ahead of the IPL 2025 retentions.
The 43-year-old is the sixth-leading run-scorer in IPL history with 5,243 runs at an average of 39.12 and a strike rate of 137.53 in 264 games.
In a recent interview at a promotional event in Goa, Dhoni said as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo:
"I just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I'm able to play. Like how during our childhood we used to go out and play at 4[pm], just enjoying the game. But when you play professional sport it becomes difficult to enjoy the game just like a game. So what I want to do is, there are emotions and commitments, but I want to enjoy the game for the next few years."
With Dhoni back behind the stumps and guiding second-year skipper Gaikwad, CSK will hope to win their third title in the last five years in IPL 2025.