England all-rounder Sam Curran has opened up about his time with MS Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings (CSK), describing him as calm, approachable, and an icon among players. Speaking on the Sky Cricket Podcast with Nasser Hussain, Curran shared anecdotes about training with Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja late at night, calling the experience surreal.
“The other night, I was batting with MS and Jadeja at 11:30 PM, just smacking balls everywhere under the floodlights. And all the local players were just sitting there, watching MS in awe. It’s just the aura of the guy,” Curran said.
He also praised Dhoni’s stress-free personality and his open-door policy at the hotel, where players frequently visit him to play FIFA and discuss cricket. “Even in the hotel, he leaves his room open, and guys go and chat with him. He obviously can’t step out much because he gets mobbed everywhere,” Curran added.
Dhoni’s IPL 2025 Season and Speculation Over His Future
The five-time IPL champion will play the 2025 season with CSK under new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, aiming for his sixth title. Last season, CSK narrowly missed the playoffs, finishing fifth due to a poor net run rate.
Despite constant speculation about his retirement, Dhoni was retained by CSK for ₹4 crore as an uncapped player under the IPL’s new rule, which allows franchises to retain players who haven’t played international cricket in five years.
Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, has continued to be a key figure in the IPL. In IPL 2024, he played the role of a finisher, scoring 161 runs at a strike rate of 220 and an average of 53.66, remaining unbeaten eight times.
The sixth-highest run-getter in IPL history, Dhoni has amassed 5,243 runs in 264 matches, with an average of 39.12 and a strike rate of 137.53, including 24 fifties. His best score remains 84 against RCB*.
CSK vs MI: IPL 2025 Season Opener
CSK will begin their IPL 2025 campaign with the much-anticipated ‘El Clasico’ against Mumbai Indians (MI) at Chepauk Stadium, Chennai, on Sunday, March 24.
With fans wondering if this will be Dhoni’s final IPL season, the legendary captain is set to lead from behind the scenes, mentoring Gaikwad and continuing his legacy with CSK.