Former cricketer Ambati Rayudu has expressed his desire to see Rohit Sharma play for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Rayudu even suggested that if MS Dhoni decides to retire after the upcoming season, Rohit Sharma could potentially lead the five-time champions.

The recent developments in the Mumbai Indians franchise, including Hardik Pandya’s return and subsequent appointment as the new captain, have stirred speculation and led to cryptic Instagram stories from multiple cricketers.

The situation gained more attention when Rohit Sharma’s wife, Ritika Sajdeh, called out Mark Boucher’s comments as misleading, addressing claims that Rohit hadn’t performed well with the bat in recent editions, prompting the franchise to make a change.

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When asked about the situation, Rayudu expressed his belief that Rohit Sharma can continue playing IPL for another five to six years. He emphasized that any team would welcome a player of Rohit’s calibre and suggested that if the star cricketer is unhappy, he could potentially join CSK in the upcoming season.

“Rohit Sharma can play IPL for the next 5-6 years. If he wants to captain, the whole world is open for him. He can easily captain wherever he wants. I want Rohit Sharma to play for CSK in 2025, if MS (Dhoni) retires then Rohit can lead as well,” said Ambati Rayudu in an interview with News24.

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As for Rayudu himself, the 36-year-old is expected to join the Mumbai Indians camp after a brief break. Having played all five Test matches against England, contributing to India’s 4-1 victory under his leadership, Rayudu is set to take a week’s break before gearing up for the T20 action, as the IPL commences on March 22 in Chennai. Mumbai Indians will play their opening game against the Gujarat Titans on March 24 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.