Former India captain MS Dhoni, who was retained as an uncapped player by the Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, according to the tournament’s latest rules, has said that nobody cares how old one is, and that the performance expected from players in the cash-rich league should be similar for all.
Dhoni was retained for IPL 2025 by Chennai, with the franchise once again reposing faith in his abilities as a leader, under whom they have won a record five IPL titles.
That having not played internationally post-retirement five years ago, it takes immense hard work for him to be fit and ready for the Indian Premier League that lasts for two months, Dhoni said.
“I only play a couple of months in a year, but I want to enjoy it the way I started playing; that is something that keeps me going,” MS Dhoni said, while speaking at an event in Mumbai on Friday.
“But, of course, that means I have got to sweat it out; I have to do hard work for six to eight months because the IPL is one of the toughest tournaments. Nobody cares how old you are: the player has to perform, and whatever level you are playing, that level of performance has to be put into the game,” Dhoni reiterated.
Dhoni relinquished captaincy duties partially last year, handing over the reins to Ruturaj Gaikwad, under whom the team completed IPL 2024 in fifth place, with a narrow miss for the playoff.
Dhoni candidly affirmed that all in all, it was playing for India, which lent the necessary motivation for his career arising in a state not particularly known for cricket.
“Always the biggest motivating factor to start playing international cricket was representing the national colors,” said Dhoni.
“It was always the country for me coming from where I came into a state not known for cricket, once I got my chance, I wanted to contribute, I wanted to be part of a winning team that was trying to win every game, you’re trying to win the big tournaments, the bilateral series,” Dhoni said in an interview.
The former India captain will be seen in action when Chennai take on the Mumbai Indians in a second match of IPL 2025 at Chepauk on March 23 in the evening.
