MS Dhoni: Retirement, Age, Net Worth, and Rumors Explained

There’s something about MS Dhoni that makes people hold on a little longer. At 43, stepping into his 18th IPL season in 2025, he’s the oldest active player in the tournament according to BBC News (UK-based broadcaster) — and he still hasn’t officially retired from the league.

Age: 43 (as of 2025) ·
IPL titles: 5 ·
Instagram followers: 50 million ·
International caps: 538 (approx) ·
ICC trophies as captain: 3

Six key facts that define Dhoni’s profile at a glance:

Has Dhoni retired from the IPL?

Dhoni’s IPL journey and captaincy

• Dhoni has not officially retired from the IPL as of early April 2025, according to Moneycontrol (financial news outlet).
• He stepped down as CSK captain in 2024 but remains a player for the franchise.
• Chennai Super Kings retained him as an uncapped player for the 2025 season — a policy move that allowed the team to keep him at a lower salary cap.

Speaking in February 2025, Dhoni said he wanted to enjoy the game like he did in his early days. A month later, in a video clip reported by IPL.com (official league site), he stated he could play for CSK as long as he wanted. The contrast between those two statements — one about enjoyment, the other about longevity — captures the ambiguity that keeps fans guessing.

The 2025 season and future plans

• Dhoni participated in his 18th consecutive IPL season in 2025 (BBC News (UK-based broadcaster)).
• He is the oldest active player in the 2025 competition at 43.
• On a podcast, Dhoni said he takes his IPL future one year at a time and that his body, not his preference, would decide whether he continues (Sportskeeda (cricket news site)).

Sunil Gavaskar publicly argued that age is just a number in Dhoni’s case, noting that Dhoni was still hitting sixes with ease at 45.

The implication: Dhoni’s retirement is less about announcements and more about physical reality. The man himself has said so.

Who has more fans, Dhoni or Virat?

Social media follower counts

• Dhoni has approximately 50 million Instagram followers (Instagram (social media platform)).
• Virat Kohli has over 270 million Instagram followers (Instagram (social media platform)).
• On X (formerly Twitter), Dhoni has roughly 7.5 million followers, while Kohli has 64 million.

By raw numbers, Kohli’s digital reach dwarfs Dhoni’s. But fan preference varies widely by region, era, and age group. Dhoni’s legacy as India’s most successful captain — the only captain to win all three ICC trophies — gives him a loyal base that social media numbers alone don’t capture (IPL.com (official league site)).

Global fan base and brand endorsements

• Dhoni’s brand value was estimated at Rs 800 crore in 2025 reports (Indiatimes (lifestyle publication)).
• Kohli’s brand value is estimated significantly higher, reflecting his larger social footprint and younger demographic appeal.
• Dhoni endorses fewer brands but commands premium loyalty fees, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 Indian cities.

Five metrics, one pattern: the Dhoni-Kohli fan divide is not about who is “bigger” — it’s about different kinds of loyalty.

The pattern: Kohli leads in digital reach and brand value; Dhoni leads in captaincy silverware. For a sponsor targeting younger, urban audiences, Kohli is the safer bet. For a brand seeking emotional resonance in smaller Indian cities, Dhoni’s legacy carries more weight.

What happened to MS Dhoni?

International retirement in 2020

• Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020 via an Instagram post (Moneycontrol (financial news outlet)).
• His last international match was the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, where he was run out in a moment that still sparks debate.
• He finished with 10,773 ODI runs, 4,876 Test runs, and 1,617 T20I runs across 538 international appearances.

The retirement wasn’t a surprise — Dhoni had taken a break from the game after the 2019 World Cup and had not played any international cricket for over a year. The announcement merely formalized what most observers already suspected.

Continued IPL presence

• After international retirement, Dhoni continued playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL (BBC News (UK-based broadcaster)).
• He played 278 IPL matches by 2025, scoring over 5,439 runs at a strike rate of 137 (SportsMint (sports business journal)).
• His retained IPL 2025 salary was reported as Rs 4 crore (Indiatimes (lifestyle publication)).

His IPL presence has been the source of the recurring retirement rumors. Every off-season brings speculation that “this might be the last year,” and every season, Dhoni shows up again.

Personal life updates

• Dhoni is married to Sakshi Dhoni; the couple has a daughter, Ziva.
• He holds an honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army’s Territorial Army.
• He owns a farm in Ranchi, a car collection valued in crores, and stakes in several businesses including sports management and fitness.

For the Indian fan who grew up watching Dhoni’s helicopter shots, the story is not one of decline — it’s a quiet second act played out in the IPL rather than on the international stage.

Is Dhoni the godfather of cricket?

Origin of the ‘godfather’ nickname

• The term “godfather of cricket” is not an official title from any cricket board.
• It emerged from fan culture and media commentary, referring to Dhoni’s influence and mentorship in Indian cricket, particularly in nurturing young talent.
• The nickname gained traction after Dhoni’s role in guiding CSK’s younger players and his behind-the-scenes influence on Indian cricket strategy.

The comparison to the Mario Puzo character is loose at best. Unlike the fictional godfather, Dhoni doesn’t operate through favors and obligations — his influence is built on trust, tactical acumen, and a decade-plus of captaincy success.

Comparison to actual godfather role

• Dhoni has mentored players like Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya, but so have many senior cricketers.
• No formal godfather role exists in cricket governance structures.
• The term is better understood as a cultural meme than a factual description.

What the nickname actually captures: Dhoni’s unique position as a figure who transcends the game’s usual hierarchies. He’s not a coach, not a selector, not a board official — yet his opinion carries weight in all three domains.

Is MS Dhoni a smoker?

Rumors and social media posts

• No confirmed evidence of Dhoni smoking exists from credible sources (Moneycontrol (financial news outlet)).
• Instagram posts tagged “Dhoni Smoking” are often fan edits, memes, or misattributed images.
• The rumor may have originated from a blurred photo or a lookalike, but no verified photograph or video shows Dhoni smoking.

This is a case where the internet’s rumor mill has outpaced the facts. The smoking allegation is a recurring topic in fan forums and social media comment sections, but it has never been substantiated.

Dhoni’s public statements on smoking

• Dhoni has not addressed the smoking rumors publicly.
• His silence on the matter is consistent with his general approach to personal rumors — he rarely engages with speculation.
• No credible journalist or publication has reported firsthand evidence of Dhoni smoking.

For a public figure whose every move is photographed, the absence of evidence is itself telling. The smoking rumor belongs in the category of unsubstantiated internet chatter, not verified fact.

Timeline: MS Dhoni’s career milestones

• 2004 — ODI debut against Bangladesh
• 2007 — Captaincy debut; leads India to T20 World Cup win
• 2011 — Wins ODI World Cup; hits iconic six to finish the final
• 2013 — Wins Champions Trophy — only captain to win all three ICC trophies
• 2020 — Retires from international cricket (Moneycontrol (financial news outlet))
• 2024 — Steps down as CSK captain; continues as player (Moneycontrol (financial news outlet))
• 2025 — Plays IPL at age 43; oldest active player in the tournament (BBC News (UK-based broadcaster))

What’s confirmed, what’s not

Voices on Dhoni’s legacy

“My body will decide when I stop. Not my mind, not the fans, not the media.”

— MS Dhoni, on a podcast during IPL 2025 (Sportskeeda (cricket news site))

“Honestly, I have no idea about his retirement plans. I’m just enjoying working with him every day.”

— Stephen Fleming, CSK head coach (Sportskeeda (cricket news site))

“Age is just a number. He’s still hitting sixes with ease. That tells you everything.”

— Sunil Gavaskar, former India captain (Moneycontrol (financial news outlet))

Three voices, one thread: nobody — not even the man himself — can say for certain when the chapter ends. That uncertainty is part of what makes Dhoni’s story compelling.

Related reading: Charles Barkley: Height, Career Stats, Net Worth, NBA Role

Frequently asked questions

For the Indian cricket fan who grew up watching Dhoni’s helicopter shots, the story is not one of decline — it’s a quiet second act played out in the IPL rather than on the international stage. For the fantasy league player tracking his form, the message is clear: trust his batting, but hedge your bets on his longevity. For the casual observer wondering what all the fuss is about, the answer is simple: there may never be another player quite like him, and we’re still watching the last innings unfold.