Will MS Dhoni use lighter bats for IPL 2025?
What's the story
Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni is reportedly planning to use lighter bats for the upcoming 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The legendary wicketkeeper-batter, who has been retained by the Yellow Army as an uncapped player this season, is training in Ranchi to prepare for the tournament. He is also expected to participate in CSK's pre-IPL camp as per tradition.
Bat specifications
Dhoni's new bats delivered by Sanspareils Greenlands
Dhoni, who played with rather heavy bats during his prime, usually uses a bat weighing between 1,250-1,300gm. However, for this season, he is likely to cut down the weight by at least 10-20gm. "Four bats have been delivered to Dhoni recently by Sanspareils Greenlands Pvt Ltd., the cricket equipment company from Meerut," a source revealed. "Each bat weighs around 1,230gm with the same shape as before."
Practice sessions
Dhoni's training regimen in Ranchi
Currently, Dhoni is practicing in Ranchi on a bowling machine. In the last two IPL seasons, the former Indian captain has been batting way down the order. he However, he did pull off a few match-winning innings, especially with his onslaught of sixes in the last two overs of matches. "He used to train at the indoor facility," a Jharkhand State Cricket Association official said about Dhoni's practice sessions.
Information
Dhoni retained by CSK
CSK retained Dhoni for ₹4 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. Along with Dhoni, CSK also retained prominent Indian players such as Ruturaj Gaikwad (₹18 crore), Ravindra Jadeja (₹18 crore), and Shivam Dube (₹12 crore).
Training schedule
CSK's training camp to commence in March
Notably, the CSK's training camp scheduled at the MA Chidambaram Stadium isn't likely to commence before March 10. As per the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructions, the Chennai stadium can't be used before March 9. "The schedule of training has not been finalized yet. Anyway, the MA Chidambaram Stadium cannot be used for training purposes till March 9 as BCCI has given strict instructions," a source from CSK management said.