As the IPL 2025 season unfolds, several players are approaching their potential retirements. Several players, who have etched their names into IPL folklore, stand at a juncture where retirement could be a looming possibility after the season concludes. It provides an analysis of seven cricket stars who might hang up their boots after this season.
1. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (43 years)
MS Dhoni’s 2025 IPL season has reflected his age and waning influence: he managed just 76 runs in 4 matches, with a top score of 30 and a strike rate of 138.18, while CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs and Dhoni’s batting opportunities were limited, often coming late in the order. At 43, with declining impact and persistent fitness concerns, this season signals it may be time for the legend to retire and allow CSK to build for the future.
| Player | IPL Matches | Runs | SR | 50s/100s | Highest | IPL Titles |
| MS Dhoni | 275 | 5,406 | 137.84 | 24/0 | 84 | 5 (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023) |
2. Ajinkya Rahane (36 years)
Ajinkya Rahane, playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025, scored 271 runs in 9 matches with a highest score of 61, but failed to register a century and managed just three fifties, reflecting a steady yet unspectacular season. At 36, with his strike rate and consistency declining, and younger players vying for top-order spots.
| Player | IPL Matches | Runs | SR | 50s/100s | Highest | IPL Titles |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 196 | 4969 | 124.72 | 33/2 | 105 | 2 (2011 RR, 2023 CSK) |
3. Ravichandran Ashwin (38 years)
Ravichandran Ashwin, playing for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025, managed just 5 wickets in 7 matches with an expensive economy rate above 8 and went wicketless in several games, indicating a dip in effectiveness.
| Player | IPL Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Economy | IPL Titles |
| R Ashwin | 219 | 185 | 4/34 | 7.19 | 2 (2010, 2011 CSK) |
4. Moeen Ali (37 years)
Moeen Ali’s IPL 2025 season with Kolkata Knight Riders has been underwhelming, scoring just 5 and 0 in his two batting opportunities and taking only 2 wickets in 7 overs at an economy rate close to 9. At 37, with minimal impact both as a batter and bowler and declining consistency, it’s clear his best days are behind him.
| Player | IPL Matches | Runs | SR | 50s/100s | Highest | Wickets | Best Bowling | IPL Titles |
| Moeen Ali | 72 | 1167 | 139.76 | 6/0 | 93 | 40 | 4/26 | 2 (2018,2021 CSK) |
5. Ishant Sharma (36 years)
Ishant Sharma’s IPL 2025 season with Gujarat Titans has been disappointing, taking just 3 wickets in 6 matches while conceding runs at a high economy rate-such as 0/53 in 4 overs against SRH and 0/36 in 2 overs against RR-highlighting his struggle to contain batters and make breakthroughs.
| Player | IPL Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Economy | IPL Titles |
| Ishant Sharma | 117 | 97 | 5/12 | 8.36 | 0 |
6. Faf du Plessis (40 years)
Faf du Plessis, playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, has shown flashes of his old class but inconsistency has crept in-scoring 185 runs in 7 matches with a top score of 62, including one fifty, but also registering low scores like 2 and 17, and a strike rate that has dipped below his career average.
| Player | IPL Matches | Runs | SR | 50s/100s | Highest | IPL Titles |
| Faf du Plessis | 150 | 4736 | 136.29 | 39/0 | 96 | 2 (2018,2021 CSK) |
7. Karn Sharma (37 years)
Karn Sharma’s IPL 2025 season with Mumbai Indians has been disappointing, as he went wicketless in key matches such as conceding 36 runs in 4 overs and 25 runs in 2 overs without a wicket-while his economy rate soared above 9 and 12.5 in those games.
| Player | IPL Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Economy | IPL Titles |
Karn Sharma | 88 | 82 | 4/16 | 8.28 | 3 (2016 SRH, 2017 MI, 2018 CSK) |
The IPL 2025 season may mark the end of an era for some of cricket’s most accomplished players. While some veterans like MS Dhoni have explicitly indicated retirement decisions pending on this season’s performance, others continue to contribute valuable experience to their teams while battling age-related performance concerns. Their legacies are firmly etched in the annals of IPL history, and their presence will be deeply missed whenever they decide to call it a day. The IPL 2025 might just be the final chapter in the illustrious careers of these seven stars, making every match they play all the more significant for their fans and the league itself.
Written by Smita Singh
