Will MS Dhoni Retire in 2025? CSK’s Future Without Thala

MS Dhoni, the iconic leader of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), continues to be one of the most discussed players in the Indian Premier League (IPL). With IPL 2025 on the horizon, speculation about whether this will be Dhoni's final season will run wild, with fans and pundits alike trying to decipher if "Thala" is an affectionate term Dhoni is set to retire from the game or if he will continue to helm CSK.

Although silence over the last few seasons about his retirement, after lifting CSK to their fifth IPL title in 2023, Dhoni hinted he would like to play one more season as a "gift" to his fans. In IPL 2024, Dhoni played a critical position guiding CSK while battling injuries for the entirety of the season. However, will this year and 2025 be the end?  

Age, fitness, and health in 2025. At 43 years old, Dhoni's fitness and health will be a primary concern for Dhoni and all involved with CSK, although he has played a wicketkeeper and captain role at a high standard, Dhoni has adapted to a batting role finishing games for CSK at the bottom of CSK's batting order. The busy IPL schedule and previous knee injuries will likely play a part in Dhoni's decision.

When Dhoni retires, it won't just be a personal decision, it'll be laden with emotion for millions of fans. The "Whistle Podu" army will want to have their send off, and perhaps they would want him to have that respectfully in Chennai. If IPL 2025 is likely to be his last season, a fitting send off is expected, which will be grander than any send off IPL has seen in the past—perhaps akin to the what was witnessed with Sachin Tendulkar in 2013.  

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Will Dhoni retire after IPL 2025? Nothing is official or set in stone for now, but IPL 2025, on the other hand, could indeed mark MS Dhoni's last before officially retiring as a player. Of course, if he is still able to do so physically and CSK needs his experience, he could go on as usual. Otherwise, he could transition to a mentorship role for the organization. Regardless of what happens, it is certainly believable that Dhoni's legacy is in its place in the IPL echelons, and one way or another, his last decision will go down as one of the most important decision yet in cricketing history.