MS Dhoni is gearing up for his 18th season in the Indian Premier League. Having played 16 seasons for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and two seasons with the now-defunct Pune franchise, the 43-year-old remains a vital figure in the league. Speaking to JioHotstar ahead of CSK's season opener against Mumbai Indians, Dhoni expressed his unwavering commitment to the franchise. Dhoni said that he could play for Chennai for as long as he wants to and added that even when he is in a wheelchair, the franchise would still convince him to play for another season. "I can play for as long as I want for CSK. That's my franchise. Even if I'm in a wheelchair, they'll drag me," Dhoni said. Since retiring from international cricket in 2019, Dhoni has continued to lead from the front in the IPL. He battled a knee injury during the 2023 season, where he underwent surgery at the end of the season. He also stepped down from captain and the franchise appointed Ruturaj Gaikwad as their captain. Apart from letting go of the captaincy, Dhoni also preferred to bat down the order. In the last edition, he notched up 161 runs while batting at 7 or below in the line-up, with a strike rate close to 221. Also Read: 'Hit as many sixes as possible': Ruturaj Gaikwad on Dhoni's role in IPL 2025 Dhoni is on the verge of history MS Dhoni is on the verge of creating a few records in the upcoming IPL 2025 season. The former captain is expected to become the all-time leading run-scorer for CSK. Currently, he is just 19 runs behind Suresh Raina's tally of 4687. Dhoni also is expected to become the first wicket-keeper to cross 200 dismissals in the IPL. Currently, he has 194 dismissals and needs six more to achieve them. Chennai Super Kings will meet Mumbai Indians in their IPL 2025 season opener. Both teams will look for a better start to their league, especially, after a below-par show in the previous season. Also, both teams are looking to become the first franchise to lift six titles in IPL history.