Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO Kasi Viswanathan has kept the doors open for legendary captain and wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni to play beyond the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Keeping his cards close to his chest, MS Dhoni can play as much as he wants for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kasi Viswanathan has said.
CSK retained five players ahead of IPL auction
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have retained five players ahead of the Indian Premier League 2025 mega auction. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja have been retained in the top bracket and both will be paid INR 18 crore.
Express pacer Matheesha Pathirana was retained for INR 13 crore and star all-rounder Shivam Dube was retained for INR 12 crore.
CSK’s fifth and final squad is legendary skipper MS Dhoni, who has been retained for INR 4 crore. Note that Dhoni has been kept in the uncapped category.
Meanwhile, CSK has a lot of work to do going into the mega auction to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 24 and 25. A total of 1574 players have registered in the auction and the BCCI will now shortlist the players.
When it comes to Mahi bhai (brother), you know he keeps things to himself – CSK CEO on MS Dhoni
Speaking to Ambati Rayudu on Provoke TV, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said that they are in no mood to part ways with MS Dhoni and the legendary skipper will take a final call on his future whenever he wants. He said:
“When it comes to Mahi bhai (brother), you know he keeps things to himself. It only comes out at the last moment. Knowing his passion for CSK and also knowing the following and he also mentioned. That he will play his last game in Chennai one of the interviews, we hope he will continue to play MS for as long as he wants, I am sure of his commitment and dedication, he will always make the right decision.”
At the start, we spoke with both Captain Ruturaj and Fleming along with MS – CSK CEO.
Kasi Viswanathan then spoke about CSK’s retention ahead of the IPL mega auction. He stated that after discussions with MS Dhoni, team captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and head coach Stephen Fleming, they decided to keep their basics.
“As always, you (Rayudu) know the culture at CSK better than I do, in the sense that we have always tried to have the core of the team. We had conversations with both captain Ruturaj and MS in the beginning. Fleming first decided to keep us.
“And we were very clear that the players would help the team grow which had stabilized the team in previous years. It was very easy to decide on the retentions. Ruturaj, Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) have made a big impact on CSK and not to mention MS and we are looking at Shivam Dube and looked at the MS,” he said.
“So we thought we would stick with them. As we all know, Pathiran will be a bowler who will be really useful for any team he goes to, so we thought he would be another one we can keep,” he added.
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