MS Dhoni has shut down all retirement rumours, suggesting that he will continue to play for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) even beyond this season.

In an interview to JioHotstar, Dhoni said that he is deeply associated with the franchise, and added on a lighter note that they will even get him out of a wheelchair to play for the team if needed.

“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,” he said.

Dhoni has been in fine batting form in the last couple of seasons, striking at a rate of 180 in their title-winning run in 2023. He returned with his nostalgic long-haired look in 2024, and struck 160+ runs at a rare touching 220, demonstrating an incredible ability to clear the ropes in the closing overs of the innings.

In fact, he underwent a knee surgery just after IPL 2023 and endured a significant rehabilitation period. However, Dhoni entered the 2024 edition of the tournament all guns blazing, smashing Anrich Nortje for 26 runs in an over in his team’s first fixture of the season, which was against the Delhi Capitals. He produced several memorable performances after that, smashing Hardik Pandya for three consecutive sixes in the final over of the match against MI at Wankhede Stadium in April 2024.

There were several calls for Dhoni to bat higher up the order given his terrific batting form.

However, the former skipper revealed after the campaign that he wanted to give more batting time to Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja, who were poised to play for India in the T20 World Cup following the IPL, in which the Men in Blue emerged victorious.