IPL 2025: Chennai Super Kings veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni has addressed speculation about his retirement from the Indian Premier League. The 43-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman said he will make a decision based on his physical condition. Speaking on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Dhoni said he is taking it "one year at a time" and will decide after evaluating his fitness. " I am 43, by the end of this IPL season, I will be 44 in July. So I have 10 months to decide whether I want to play one more year and it’s not me deciding; it’s my body, whether you can play or not," he said. It is unclear when the podcast was recorded.
Dhoni’s form has come under scrutiny after scoring just 76 runs in four matches this season. He played a crucial knock of 30 not out off 26 balls in Chennai’s recent loss but was unable to guide the team to victory. CSK, who were chasing 184, lost by 20 runs after being restricted to 163 for seven.
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His batting position has also raised questions, especially when he came in at No. 9 behind Ravichandran Ashwin in a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming defended the decision, citing Dhoni’s fitness. "His knees are not what they used to be. He can’t bat for 10 overs at full intensity," Fleming said.
Dhoni stepped down as captain before the 2024 season and handed over leadership to Ruturaj Gaikwad. He has played over 500 professional matches and scored more than 17,000 runs in his career. In the IPL, he has featured in 268 games, scoring 5,319 runs with 24 half-centuries. As a wicketkeeper, he has registered 194 dismissals, including 149 catches and 45 stumpings.
