The 43-year-old Indian cricket icon gears up for another IPL

As Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 unfolds, all eyes are on MS Dhoni who continues to command famous person standing in Indian cricket regardless of retiring from worldwide cricket in 2020.

Dhoni continues to be a key determine on the planet’s richest cricket league.

Alongside him are veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, tempo bowler Jasprit Bumrah, and rising stars like Shubhman Gill, Yashaswi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant. They’re among the many gamers who led India to 2 ICC titles prior to now 9 months – the T20 World Cup in June and the Champions Trophy final month.

But, it’s Dhoni who nonetheless instructions unrivalled consideration, along with his management and presence within the league persevering with to captivate followers.

The cricketer, who turns 44 in July, is enjoying his 18th straight IPL season, 16 of those representing Chennai Tremendous Kings (CSK). He’s the oldest participant within the event this yr, although not the oldest to have performed within the IPL.

Australian spin bowler Brad Hogg was 45 years and 92 days previous when he final performed within the IPL in 2016, representing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Leg-spinner Pravin Tambe, the oldest debutant at 41 years and 212 days for Rajasthan Royals, performed his remaining match in 2019 at 44 years and 219 days, capping an astonishing profession.

Whether or not Dhoni will surpass Tambe and Hogg stays to be seen. Three seasons in the past, when he gave up the CSK captaincy, his retirement appeared imminent. Final yr, his rare appearances urged the identical. Nevertheless, CSK used the retention clause within the IPL mega public sale to maintain Dhoni for the 2025 season as an uncapped participant, given his five-year absence from worldwide cricket.

In 18 IPL seasons, Dhoni has scored 5,243 runs, inserting him sixth on the all-time run listing, at present topped by Kohli.

His profession batting common of 39.12 is greater than each Rohit Sharma and Kohli, and trails solely David Warner (40.52) and AB de Villiers (39.70) amongst gamers with greater than 5,000 runs within the league.

Amongst gamers with over 5,000 runs, Dhoni’s strike charge of 137.53 ranks behind solely de Villiers (151.68) and Warner (139.77).

In sixes, Dhoni (252) trails solely Gayle (357), Sharma (280) and Kohli (272).

These batting stats spotlight only one side of Dhoni’s prowess. As a wicketkeeper, he boasts 180 dismissals (141 catches, 39 stumpings), a report unmatched by anybody. His fast reflexes and deft glovework earned him the nickname “pickpocket” from former Indian coach Ravi Shastri.

The “helicopter shot”, a flick-drive performed over mid-wicket with a wrist-flex of the underside hand, grew to become the signature stroke of his batting brilliance.

The opposite notable side of his batting was his means to manage the match, taking the innings deep, just about to the tip, with a outstanding management of nerves, and interspersed with explosive strokes. He additionally ran like a hare between wickets, making him India’s greatest match-winner in his prime years.

Dhoni holds the report for many IPL matches as captain (210) and most wins (123), main CSK to 5 IPL titles and two Champions League titles.

He additionally captained India to a few ICC titles: the T20 World Cup (2007), ODI World Cup (2011) and Champions Trophy (2013).

Moreover, his impression in Check cricket is immense, having performed 90 Assessments and guiding India to the No1 ICC rating earlier than his sudden retirement mid-series in 2014-15.

Former Indian captains Sunil Gavaskar and Shastri have ceaselessly hailed him as India’s best cricketer ever. Whereas that is open to debate, that Dhoni belongs to the identical cluster as Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev is now extensively acknowledged.

So what does the present season maintain for him?

Advancing age has taken a bodily toll on Dhoni, although he stays mentally robust and extremely aggressive. Final season, he stepped away from his finisher function, which he’d held because the league’s inception, and tailored his strategy to supply invaluable cameos that would impression the end result.

With the impression participant rule – which permits groups to select an additional specialist batter or bowler based mostly on the sport scenario – now an integral a part of the IPL, Dhoni may effectively settle into this function, whereas persevering with to be a sounding board for the captain and mentor to the squad in a non-designated casual method.

For CSK, conserving Dhoni within the squad is a no brainer. His attraction extends past CSK followers, providing large industrial and branding advantages to each the franchise and the IPL. As CSK places it, an IPL with out Dhoni is “unthinkable”.

This will likely restrict alternatives for younger gamers, each Indian and abroad, however Ravi Shastri dismisses this argument. “The league operates on free-market dynamics. Franchise homeowners aren’t sentimental – they know what’s greatest for them, on and off the sector,” he says.

In the meantime, former India opener Robin Uthappa, who performed below Dhoni for each India and CSK, warns rivals: “Write off Dhoni at your personal threat. We may nonetheless see some previous magic.”

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