MS Dhoni, who’s played more Indian Premier League games than anyone else, is ready to suit up for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025. CSK kept the former India and CSK captain for Rs 4 crore before the big IPL 2025 auction last year. Even though he’s over 43, Dhoni is still a force to be reckoned with in the IPL. In the 2024 IPL, he played all 14 matches for Ruturaj Gaikwad’s team, hitting 13 sixes and scoring 161 runs.
The great wicketkeeper-batter wants to have another year of great showings in the IPL. Before IPL 2025 kicks off, Dhoni’s old India teammates Harbhajan Singh and Aakash Chopra, now commentators, chatted about why Dhoni is still so good on ESPNCricinfo.
Harbhajan said, “He was amazing last year. I saw him at a friend’s wedding recently. He looked fit. I asked him if it’s tough to do what he’s doing. He said, ‘It is hard, but it’s the only thing I like doing. I love it. When it’s the end of the game, I want to go and play. And I want to do it.’ It’s hard when you are not playing any cricket. But he’s showing how it’s done. He must be doing something better than everyone else. He is still good, actually, he is still in charge.
Last season, he was in charge of the bowlers, both international and top Indian bowlers. So, he probably does so much practice for 2-3 months and faces so many balls.
“He gets there first. The more balls you hit, the better your timing and flow. He keeps practicing, for 2-3 hours in Chennai. And that’s what makes a difference. He’s the first to arrive and the last to leave. That’s the difference at his age, Harbhajan added.
Chopra, who’s watched Dhoni closely for years, said that the legendary wicketkeeper-batter is honest with himself and knows what he’s capable of.
“I also think he’s very honest with himself. And that honesty is important. Why? Well, we kept saying he should bat higher up if he’s batting so well. But he knew he couldn’t bat for 40 balls. If he comes in after 12 overs, he can’t do it. You might think he can hit, but he knows he can’t. And that’s one key point. It was clear what he could do. Sometimes knowing what you can’t do is just as important. He gets that, Chopra said.
