‘I Just Want to...’ MS Dhoni Drops Huge Hint on Possible Return in IPL 2025

Chennai: And when things were going away from rar and on verge of ending, “Thala” Dhoni, in his famous style, took situation in his hands and calmed nerves of his fans. For MS Dhoni fans, last few months were a bit chaotic as y were uncertain about ir favourite player's return to cricket field.

But In a recent statement, former Indian captain and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon MS Dhoni hinted at his possible return for 2025 Indian Premier League ( IPL ) season. dressing speculations regarding his future in cricket, Dhoni, w 43, mentioned that he wants to enjoy "whatever last few years of cricket" he has left, sparking hopes among fans about ar season in yellow.

Dhoni’s Future with CSK Amid Speculation

Ever since Dhoni handed over captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikw last season, fans have speculated about his long-term plans. His decision to bat lower in order last season also fueled rumors about his role in team. franchise deline to submit retained player lists for IPL 2025 is October 31, and with Dhoni having retired from international cricket over five years ago, he could be reclassified as an uncapped player this season.

At a recent event in Goa , Dhoni shared his intentions to relish remaining moments in his career: “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 game. But when you play professional sport it becomes difficult to enjoy game just like a game. So what I want to do is, re are emotions and commitments, but I want to enjoy game for next few years."

CSK’s CEO Kasi Viswanathan recently expressed optimism about Dhoni’s potential involvement in upcoming season, strengning fan hopes for ar season under Dhoni’s influence.

Strategic Decision Behind Batting Lower in 2024 IPL Season

During 2024 IPL season, Dhoni took a backseat on batting order, a move primarily me to provide aspiring Indian players with more game-time, particularly with T20 World Cup on horizon. Dhoni explained, "My thinking was simple, if ors are doing ir job well why do I need to come up with an order."

decision also highlighted CSK’s approach to player development, as Dhoni ded, “If you're talking about last year (season) specifically, T20 World Cup squ was going to be anunced soon. So we have to give people who are fighting for a spot a chance. In our team (CSK) we h a few, (Ravindra) Jeja was re, Shivam Dube was re so you give m an opportunity to prove mselves to get into Indian team."

Dhoni Praises New Aggressive Test Cricket Approach

Dhoni also shared his miration for shift in Test cricket towards a more aggressive, result-oriented style, commonly referred to as “Bazball.” Reflecting on evolution of sport, Dhoni ted, "You can give cricket any term that you want to, what we have seen is cricket has evolved. way people are playing cricket is very different. re was a time when in ODIs something was considered a safe score, w that score is t safe in T20s too."

While Dhoni himself played 90 Tests, he ackwledged endurance challenges of tritional Test cricket, especially when a match heed for a draw. He explained, "For me, most difficult time during a Test match was fifth day of a match which is last day when you knew that 100% it is going to be a draw. You see re is result happening, you are just going through motions."

A Call for More Results in Test Matches

Dhoni emphasised importance of having a result after five days of play, viewing it as crucial for game’s appeal. He commented, "Imagine telling someone who doesn’t kw much cricket we play over five days and we start at 9.30 and 4.30 is scheduled end of play, we play till 5[pm] sometimes, and after five days we don’t get a result. That’s t nice for game."

Dhoni’s outlook reflects modern fan's desire for competitive cricket with more definitive outcomes, bringing new energy and excitement to tritional format. As CSK and ir fans await final anuncements, Dhoni’s future in IPL and his enduring legacy in Indian cricket continue to captivate sport's global audience.