MS Dhoni opens up about his retirement ahead of IPL 2025

MS Dhoni has been retained as an uncapped player ahead of IPL 2025.

MS Dhoni has remained an uncapped player ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. During a recent interview, he opened up about his retirement. The IPL is scheduled to begin on March 22, and it will be one season with MS Dhoni in action. He announced his retirement from international cricket after making his last outing for India in their 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final defeat against New Zealand on July 9, 2019. However, he has remained pivotal for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL.

MS Dhoni speaks about his retirement.

On Wednesday, during the launch of an event, he opened up about his retirement from the IPL. Speaking to PTI, he said, “I’ve retired since 2019, so it will be quite some time. In the meantime, I’ve been wanting to enjoy cricket for the last, whatever few years, you know, I will be able to play. I want to enjoy it, how I did as a child when I was in school. When I lived in a colony, 4 o’clock (in the afternoon) was sports time, so we’ll go and play cricket more often than not. But if the weather doesn’t permit, we used to play football. I want to play with the same kind of innocence… (but it is) easier said than done.”

MS Dhoni advises young players.

Advising young players, MS Dhoni said, “For me as a cricketer, I always wanted to perform for the Indian cricket team because I’ve also said that in the past, not everybody gets a chance to represent the country. For us as cricketers, whenever we went on to the big stage or whenever we were touring, there was a chance for us to win laurels for the country and so for me it was the country that always came first.” He added, “You always need to figure out what is good for you. When I was playing, I made sure that cricket was a whole for me — nothing else mattered. What time I had to sleep? What time I had to get up? What impact it had on (my) cricket, that was the most important thing. You know, all the friendships, the fun, all those can happen later. There is a right time for everything and I felt if you are able to recognise that, that’s the best thing you can do (for yourself).”

Ahead of IPL 2025, Dhoni handed over the CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad.