We are very, very hopeful that Dhoni will be available for IPL 2025: CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan

Veteran Chennai Super Kings batter MS Dhoni has been a stalwart for the franchise over the years. Leading the side to five IPL titles, Dhoni is nothing short of a legend and a god-like figure for the CSK fans. Having already retired from international cricket in 2020, Dhoni continues to play for CSK in the IPL.

After the side won the IPL in 2023, MS Dhoni promised that he would be back for another season as a gift for the love that they have shown for him over the years. However, the IPL 2024 did not have a fairytale ending for Dhoni.

The five-time champions were eliminated from the group stage of the tournament, and there has been no update on whether Dhoni will come back for another season. However, the CEO of Chennai Super Kings, Kasi Viswanathan, has come forward and revealed that they are hopeful of Dhoni's return.

"I do not know, It is a question which only MS can answer. The question for us, we have always respected the decisions taken by MS, we have left it to him. As all of you know, he has always taken his decisions and announced it at the appropriate time. We do expect that we will get a decision as and when he decides. But we are very, very hopeful that he will be available for CSK the next year. That is the view and expectations of the fans and mine,” Kasi Viswanathan said in a video on CSK’s YouTube channel.

I have not discussed anything more onViswanathan on Stephen Fleming

Furthermore, the CSK CEO opened up about the soon-to-be vacant position of head coach of the Indian men’s senior team. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming is being seen as one of the candidates for the job. Viswanathan opined that it would not be Fleming’s cup of tea to take up the job of the India head coach.

"I jokingly asked Stephen, 'have you applied to the Indian coaching assignment? Stephen just laughed and said: 'Do you want me to?', I know that it's not going to be his cup of tea because he doesn't like to be involved [in coaching] for nine-ten months in a year. That's my feeling. I have not discussed anything more on him,” Viswanathan said.