'That's My Franchise': Ex-CSK Skipper MS Dhoni Takes Brutal Dig At Critics Demanding His Retirement Ahead Of Crucial MI Clash

IPL 2025: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are all set to take on Mumbai Indians (MI) in the third match of the ongoing Indian Premier League. The El-Classico will be played in Chepauk, aka the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai's favourite hunting ground. This is MS Dhoni's eighteenth IPL appearance and his sixteenth for the Chennai Super Kings. Both Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians share five IPL titles within themeslves and this is a testament to their dominance in the cash-rich league.

The legendary MS Dhoni, who stepped down as the Chennai Super Kings skipper last year led them to five IPL titles. Speculations were rife last year that Dhoni will retire after the culmination of IPL 2024, but he has now returned to play for Chennai Super Kings in the eighteenth season of the IPL. Will this be MS Dhoni's swansong? Only time has an answer to it.

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Dhoni Breaks Silence On Retirement Plans

There is no doubt about the fact that MS Dhoni will be playing for Chennai Super Kings purely as a wicketkeeper. MS Dhoni's fitness is satill under the bradar and he might play the role of a pinch-hitter just like what he did last year. Before the all-important Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings 'El Classico', MS Dhoni spoke to the official broadcasters of IPL 2025 and broke silence on his retirement.

'I can play for as long as I want for CSK. That's my franchise. Even if I'm in a wheelchair, they'll drag me,', said the former India and CSK Skipper. MS Dhoni has been dealing with a knee injury and he went under the surgical knife in 2023.

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Dissecting MS Dhoni's IPL Numbers

Former Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni has played 264 IPL matches so far. Dhoni has scored a total of 5243 runs at an average of 39.13 and with a strike rate of 137.54. Dhoni has also scored 24 fifties in his illustrious IPL career.

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