Kolkata, March 23 (NationPress) As the Chennai Super Kings gear up to commence their IPL 2025 journey against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in a showdown of the five-time champions, all attention will be on MS Dhoni, who remains a pivotal figure in the league. Discussing the uncertainty surrounding the former captain's involvement this season, Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar remarked that every time doubts are cast on the CSK icon, he effectively puts those critics in their place with his talent.

The cricketer, approaching his 44th birthday in July, is participating in his 18th consecutive IPL season, with 16 of those seasons representing Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He has played 264 matches and amassed 5243 runs, placing him sixth on the all-time runs leaderboard, and boasts 24 half-centuries.

"Why even pose that question? Why create pressure on him? Each time people doubt MS Dhoni, he proves them wrong. Don't question his capabilities. Even at this age, he’s hitting sixes not just past the boundary but directly into the stands during practice. For Dhoni, age is merely a number," Gavaskar stated on JioHotstar.

When Dhoni steps onto the field against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday evening, he requires just two maximums to reach a milestone of 250 sixes for CSK, the franchise he has led in 212 matches, securing 128 victories while facing defeat in 82 matches since the IPL's inception in 2008.

Overall, Dhoni ranks fourth in the list of most IPL sixes, following Chris Gayle (357), Rohit Sharma (280), and Virat Kohli (272).

Dhoni’s captaincy of CSK commenced in the inaugural season back in 2008 and has led to five championship victories. He has spent his entire career with the Super Kings, except for the 2016 and 2017 seasons when the franchise was suspended due to a spot-fixing scandal.

CSK utilized the retention clause in the IPL mega auction last year to keep Dhoni for the 2025 season as an uncapped player, given his five-year hiatus from international cricket.

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden reflected on the iconic clash between MI and CSK at Chepauk, indicating that the Super Kings have traditionally dominated at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, much like MI does at Wankhede Stadium.

This encounter marks the 38th meeting between the two teams, with MI leading the series 20-17. However, CSK secured a victory in their previous meeting by 20 runs in Mumbai.

"This is an incredible fixture. Both teams share a rich history. At Chepauk, CSK has been in control, similar to how MI performs at Wankhede. A win here would be monumental, and CSK’s spin unit—among the best in the league—will be crucial.

"They have their old comrade back, Ravichandran Ashwin, which is fantastic to see. He could be instrumental on a pitch expected to provide some turn. It's only fitting that the season opener at Chepauk features the Mumbai Indians," Hayden concluded.