Even after four years of retirement, MS Dhoni is actively playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, his role as a batsman has been limited to playing a few balls and providing momentum to the innings while batting in the lower order.

At a promotional event in Goa, Dhoni spoke about his role and revealed that last year he batted in the lower order to give some playing time to players auditioning for the impending T20 World Cup 2024. He added that CSK was happy with his role on the team. .

“My thought was simple: if others are doing their jobs well, why do I have to move up the order? If you are specifically talking about last year (season), the T20 World Cup squad would be announced soon. So we have to give a chance to people who are fighting for a place. In our team (CSK) we had some, [Ravindra] Jadeja was there, Shivam Dube was there, so you give them a chance to prove themselves and get into the Indian team. There was nothing for me, no selection and other things. So I’m well behind [playing down the order] and my team was happy with what I was doing.”

Since 2023, Dhoni has played 23 innings and scored 265 runs at a strike rate of 203.84, with the best being 37*. However, on average, he has faced just 5.65 balls per innings and 14 of those outings have been at number 7 or below, showing that he played as a lower-order batsman who also kept wickets.

MS Dhoni to return for IPL 2025

After much speculation, it has been confirmed that MS Dhoni will play for Chennai Super Kings again in the upcoming edition. You will most likely play as a no-limits player, as the rules have been changed to allow you to play as a no-limits player.

He has not played for India in five years nor has he had any BCCI central contract, so he meets the criteria. Given other options in this category, CSK will likely reserve a spot for their former captain while Sameer Rizvi could take the second spot.

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His presence will help Ruturaj Gaikwad make more prudent decisions on the field as he still has a lot to learn. This league creates so much pressure that it can lead to captains making wrong decisions, but Dhoni has excelled over the years.

CSK will not have to look for alternatives in the goalkeeping department as Dhoni remains as quick as ever behind the sticks. Additionally, he will also bring the crowd with him wherever he plays because he is a crowd favorite and fans line up to see him play.

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