Former India and Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni has dropped a hint that he may return for the next IPL season in 2025, saying he wants to enjoy whatever the last few years of cricket are that he will have a chance to play them.
There has been wide speculation about his availability in the upcoming season, particularly since he handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad in the last season, while beginning to bat further down the order.
Franchises have to submit their retained player lists by October 31 before the mega auction. Dhoni could be retained by CSK as an uncapped player this year as a result of the reintroduction of the rule whereby players retired from international cricket for five years are classified as uncapped.
"I just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I'm able to play," ESPNcricinfo quoted Dhoni as saying on Sunday at a promotional event held in Goa a couple of days ago.
"Like how during our childhood we used to go out and play at 4[pm], just enjoying the game. But when you play professional sport it becomes difficult to enjoy the game just like a game. So what I want to do is, there are emotions and commitments, but I want to enjoy the game for the next few years."
CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan had last week also stated that he is optimistic that Dhoni will be part of the next season.
Dhoni, who had surgery on his left knee in 2023, batted lower down the order during the 2024 edition of the IPL. The former India skipper stated that this was primarily done to give game-time to aspiring Indian players ahead of the T20 World Cup.
"My thinking was simple: if others are doing a good job, why should I come up with the order." Dhoni said.
"The T20 World Cup's squad was going to get announced soon. So that is why we need to give people who are in the fight for the available spot a chance," the former skipper said.
"In our team (CSK) we had a few, (Ravindra) Jadeja was there, Shivam Dube was there so you give them an opportunity to prove themselves to get into the Indian team. There was nothing in it for me, no selection and other things. So I'm good behind [playing down the order] and my team was happy with what I was doing.
**"Love how teams are playing Test cricket now"**
Dhoni has welcomed the result-oriented aggressive approach, often termed as "Bazball," which teams are adopting in Test cricket these days.
"You can give any name you want to give cricket, what we have seen is cricket has undergone changes. The way the people play cricket is all so different. There was a time when in the ODIs something was looked as safe score, not in the T20's," said Dhoni.
"You give something a term, it becomes much more interesting because you start talking about it, you start relating to it but at the end of the day what is it? It's a way to play cricket."
Playing 90 Tests for India, Dhoni talked about the experience of playing on the fifth day when a match appeared headed for a draw.
"For me, the most difficult time during a Test match was the fifth day of a match which is the last day when you knew that 100% it is going to be a draw," he said in the report.
"I would still have to keep for nearly 2.5 sessions, and that was the most tiring part. You see there is no result happening, you are just going through the motions. Yes, bowlers would like to take wickets, batters will try to score runs, [but] there is no result in the game.".
"You think let's finish this and go, why do I have to be here. So I love the fact there's change in the way teams are playing Test cricket."
No fan of draws, Dhoni said a result must come after five days of play.
"Imagine telling someone who doesn't know much cricket we play over five days and we start at 9.30 and 4.30 is the scheduled end of play, we play till 5[pm] sometimes, and after five days we don't get a result. That's not nice for the game. So I love how there's more results in today's world.".
"Even if we are playing only four days of cricket and one day gets washed out, still you get a result-that's the beauty of Test cricket and that's how it should stay-you want to get a result after five days and you shouldn't have a draw."
Read also| India Collapses to 178/7, Faces Potential First Home Test Series Defeat in 12 Years
