Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO Kasi Viswanathan has kept the doors open for legendary captain and batsman MS Dhoni to play beyond the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Kasi Viswanathan said that MS Dhoni, who keeps his cards close to his chest, can play for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) whenever he wants.
CSK retained five players ahead of IPL auction
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have retained five players ahead of the mega auction of Indian Premier League 2025. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja have been retained in the top group and both will be paid Rs 18 crore INR each.
Express pacer Matheesha Pathirana has been retained for INR 13 crore and star all-rounder Shivam Dube has been retained for INR 12 crore.
CSK’s fifth and final retention is legendary captain MS Dhoni, who has been signed for INR 4 crore. Notably, Dhoni has remained in the uncapped category.
Meanwhile, CSK have their work cut out for them as they enter the mega auction to be held on November 24-25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 1,574 players have registered for the auction and the BCCI will now shortlist the players.
Also Read: IPL 2025 Auction: Will Ruturaj Gaikwad be replaced by Rishabh Pant as CSK captain? The CEO of the franchise reveals
As far as Mahi bhai (brother) is concerned, you know he keeps everything to himself: CSK CEO on MS Dhoni
Speaking to Ambati Rayudu on Provoke TV, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said that they are in no mood to part ways with MS Dhoni and the legendary captain will take the final decision on his future whenever he wants. He said:
“As far as Mahi bhai (brother) is concerned, you know he keeps everything to himself. It only comes out at the last moment. Knowing the passion he has for CSK, and also knowing what he has next, and also mentioned in In one of the interviews, he will play his last game in Chennai. We hope that he continues as far as CSK is concerned. As long as MS wants to play, the doors are open. Knowing him, his commitment and his dedication, I am sure he will always take the. correct decision.”
Initially, we had discussions with both Captain Ruturaj and CSK CEO MS and Fleming.
Kasi Viswanathan further spoke about CSK’s retentions ahead of the IPL mega auction. He said they decided to retain their core after discussions with MS Dhoni, team captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and head coach Stephen Fleming.
“As always, you (Rayudu) know the CSK culture better than me in the sense that we have always tried to have the core of the team. In the beginning we had discussions with both Ruturaj, the captain, and MS, along with Fleming before that we decided on withholdings.
“And we were very clear that the players would help the team grow, (those) who had stabilized the team in the previous years. It was very easy to decide on the retentions. Ruturaj, Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja), who has had a big impact on CSK and in the MS which is not necessary to talk about, and in Shivam Dube, which we had prepared, and the MS had prepared,” he said.
“So, we thought we should stick with them. As we all know, Pathirana will be a bowler who will be really useful for any team he goes to, so we think he will be another one we can keep,” he added.