Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan said he is “very, very hopeful” that MS Dhoni will return in the IPL 2025 amid retirement rumors.
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The retirement saga of MS Dhoni
CSK did not qualify for the playoffs, finishing fifth in the 2024 IPL table.
Speculation emerged that this could be Dhoni’s final season in the tournament.
However, Viswanathan said the decision is up to the former Super Kings captain himself.
Nonetheless, Viswanathan is hopeful that the franchise will retain Dhoni’s services.
“I do not know. It is a question which only MS can answer. The question for us, we have always respected the decisions taken by MS. We have left it to him,” he said to a question on CSK’s YouTube channel.
“As all of you know, he has always taken his decisions and announced them at the appropriate time. We do expect that we will get a decision as and when he decides.”
“But we are very, very hopeful that he will be available for CSK the next year. That is the view and expectations of the fans and mine.”
CSK hopeful to have Dhoni next season
Dhoni, who turns 43 this July, scored 161 runs in 73 balls at a strike rate of 220.55 this season.
Viswanathan said he will discuss the retention issue with the BCCI in relation to the IPL mega auction.
“It is too early because we have still not heard from BCCI on the kind of retentions which are going to be part of the next cycle of auction.”
“So we are expecting that the BCCI would discuss with all franchise owners before they take a decision on retention.”
