Mahendra Singh Dhoni last played international cricket six years ago. Since then, he has only been seen in the IPL. However, IPL 2025 could be his farewell season.
For the past two years, he has played with a knee injury, but he is ready for one last run at a sixth title. Just a few more days, and the most glamorous tournament in franchise cricket—the Indian Premier League (IPL)—will begin.
This season will feature a host of fresh faces eager to prove themselves. On the other hand, a few legends are also present, standing at the twilight of their careers, looking to give it their all one last time.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni – 43 years, 147 days
Mahendra Singh Dhoni last played international cricket six years ago. Since then, he has only been seen in the IPL. However, IPL 2025 could be his farewell season. For the past two years, he has played with a knee injury, but he is ready for one last run at a sixth title.
Since 2008, Dhoni has played 264 matches, scoring 5,243 runs! He has won the title five times, engraving his name in golden letters in the tournament’s history as one of the greatest captains.
Faf du Plessis – 40 years, 141 days
Only two players above 40 are playing in this year’s IPL—one is MS Dhoni, and the other is Faf du Plessis. The former Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore batter will now debut for Delhi Capitals this season.
Despite playing only 145 IPL matches, he has already scored 4,571 runs. Though he has never scored a century, his ability to play big innings is unquestionable, making Delhi Capitals dream big.
Ravichandran Ashwin – 38 years, 75 days
Though his age has long passed its peak, franchises still fight over Ravichandran Ashwin at the auction table. Chennai Super Kings had to spend ₹9.75 crore to secure his services! However, his presence on Chepauk’s spin-friendly pitch is worth much more.
Apart from his diverse bowling skills, Ashwin is also a handy batter. His team can even utilize him as a floater in the batting order.
Rohit Sharma – 37 years, 215 days
India’s World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma is the fourth-oldest player in this year’s IPL. He holds the record for the most IPL titles—six in total, jointly with MS Dhoni. This year, he aims to make it seven.
After winning two global trophies in just nine months, winning the IPL title shouldn’t feel too difficult for him. Given his current form with the bat, Mumbai Indians have even higher expectations this season.
Moeen Ali – 37 years, 166 days
Moeen Ali’s IPL career started relatively late. He first got a team in 2018, playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore. From 2021 to 2024, he was a key player for Chennai Super Kings. This year, he will be seen in the Kolkata Knight Riders camp.
As a versatile all-rounder, the English cricketer has proven his worth. He has scored over 1,000 runs in the IPL and taken 35 wickets. He could be a crucial factor in helping Kolkata Knight Riders defend their title.
