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The constant question surrounding MS Dhoni's IPL future has become a point of frustration for former India captain Sunil Gavaskar. As Chennai Super Kings (CSK) gear up for their IPL 2025 opener against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on March 23, Dhoni's retirement speculation has once against resurfaced.
However, the batting great Gavaskar isn't happy with the persistent talks around Dhoni's retirement. He expressed his displeasure on the narrative and said that it puts undue pressure on the Indian legend by constantly raising the topic of his retirement, suggesting that the cricket community should allow Dhoni to play without this added scrutiny.
"Why should we even ask that question? Why put pressure on him? Every time people question MS Dhoni, he proves them wrong," said Gavaskar, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
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Sunil Gavaskar, in his commentary, said that MS Dhoni's capability to deliver powerful sixes remains undiminished. He argued that the constant questioning of Dhoni's future is unwarranted, given his continued ability to perform at a high level. Gavaskar suggested that rather than speculating about his retirement, the focus should be on appreciating his present contributions to the game. He firmly stated that people should cease their doubts regarding Dhoni's cricketing abilities.
"Don't doubt his ability. Even at this age, he's hitting sixes not just past the boundary but into the stands during practice. Age is just a number when it comes to Dhoni," he added.
Meanwhile, adding to the pre-match analysis, former Australia star batter Matthew Hayden, also a member of the commentary panel, talked about the potential impact of R Ashwin in the highly anticipated clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Hayden specifically pointed to Ashwin's return to his former franchise, CSK, after being acquired in the previous year's mega auction in November. He believes that Ashwin's experience and skill set will be crucial, suggesting that the veteran spinner is poised to play a pivotal role in the outcome of the match.
"It's such a great fixture. These two sides have so much history together. And at Chepauk, CSK has controlled the game, just like Mumbai does at Wankhede. A win there would be significant, and CSK's spin unit—one of the best in the competition—will play a crucial role. They've got their old friend back, Ravichandran Ashwin, which is great to see. He could be key on a wicket that I expect to offer turn. It's only fitting that the season opener at Chepauk features Mumbai Indians," Hayden said.
CSK's full schedule for IPL 2025:
March 23 (Sunday) – CSK vs Mumbai Indians (MI) in Chennai
March 28 (Friday) – CSK vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Chennai
March 30 (Sunday) – CSK vs Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati
April 5 (Saturday) – CSK vs Delhi Capitals (DC) in Chennai
April 8 (Tuesday) – CSK vs Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mullanpur
April 11 (Friday) – CSK vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai
April 14 (Monday) – CSK vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow
April 20 (Sunday) – CSK vs Mumbai Indians (MI) in Mumbai
April 25 (Friday) – CSK vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Chennai
April 30 (Wednesday) – CSK vs Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Chennai
May 3 (Saturday) – CSK vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Bengaluru
May 7 (Wednesday) – CSK vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Kolkata
May 12 (Monday) – CSK vs Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Chennai
May 18 (Sunday) – CSK vs Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad
CSK's full squad for IPL 2025:
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Devon Conway (Rs. 6.25 crore), Rahul Tripathi (Rs. 3.40 crore), Rachin Ravindra (Rs. 4 crore), R. Ashwin (Rs. 9.75 crore), Khaleel Ahmed (Rs. 4.80 crore), Noor Ahmad (Rs. 10 crore), Vijay Shankar (Rs. 1.20 crore), Sam Curran (Rs. 2.40 crore), Shaik Rasheed (Rs. 30 lakh), Anshul Kamboj (Rs. 3.40 crore), Mukesh Choudhary (Rs. 30 lakh), Deepak Hooda (Rs. 1.70 crore), Gurjapneet Singh (Rs. 2.20 crore), Nathan Ellis (Rs. 2 crore), Jamie Overton (Rs. 1.50 crore), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (Rs. 30 lakh), Ramakrishna Ghosh (Rs. 30 lakh), Shreyas Gopal (Rs. 30 lakh), Vansh Bedi (Rs. 55 lakh), Andre Siddarth (Rs. 30 lakh).
