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With MS Dhoni officially included in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad list announced on October 31, speculation about his IPL 2025 participation has been put to bed. Indeed, whether he would be included or not was a hot topic among the fans, especially since the farewell rumours have been present for years.
At the end of the IPL 2020 season, Dhoni hinted that he wasn’t ready to say goodbye just yet. Speaking to Danny Morrison during the toss of CSK’s final league game, Dhoni confirmed it wasn’t his last game in yellow and true to his word, he played three more seasons, leading CSK to titles in 2021 and 2023.
The farewell rumours came back to life following the exit against RCB in May, but CSK confirmed on Thursday that Dhoni has been included in the squad for 2025. Therefore, speculation has now shifted towards the cost of CSK’s retention strategy. According to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, CSK retained the following players: MS Dhoni, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, and Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana.
As the report adds, these five retentions will cost CSK at least Rs 65 crore out of their total budget of Rs 120 crore. Dhoni has been retained as an uncapped player and thus costs CSK just Rs 4 crore, thanks to a rule reintroduced by the BCCI for this auction.
However, given the pain Dhoni endured on May 18, 2024 – when CSB missed out on the play-offs in favour of RCB – the decision to continue came as a surprise to some. As fans, we are happy to see him play in 2025, but the reality is that he’ll be nearly 44. That being said, there’s no doubt about his fitness or his ability to hit sixes.
Indeed, Dhoni’s participation significantly influences CSK’s standing in the eyes of analysts and bookmakers alike. His presence has historically been a game-changer, often tipping the scales in favour of Chennai. If you’re keen to see how Dhoni’s participation is influencing the odds for CSK and other teams, you can find a detailed breakdown on BettingGuide’s IPL 2025 odds page.
Since the inception of the IPL in 2008, MS Dhoni has been the heart and soul of the Chennai Super Kings. And while under his leadership CSK has got five IPL titles, Dhoni has played a pivotal role in nurturing young talents, making them international stars. From that perspective, some will see his 2025 inclusion purely as a bonus, especially given the relatively low cost.
