Australian cricket legend and former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Matthew Hayden recently found himself in a tough spot when asked to choose between his home country and his former IPL franchise. The question put to him was a challenging one—whether he would prefer CSK winning the IPL 2025 title while Australia loses the next Ashes series to England or Australia winning the Ashes at the cost of CSK finishing last in what could be MS Dhoni’s final IPL season. Despite his strong ties with CSK, Matthew Hayden made it clear that for an Australian, losing the Ashes to England is never an option.
Initially calling the question “horrible,” Matthew Hayden laughed it off but soon made his stance clear. The former Australian opener emphasized the importance of the Ashes and stated that he would always choose an Australian victory in the historic Test series over CSK’s fate in the IPL. His decision, though disappointing for CSK fans, highlighted the deep-rooted competitive spirit that exists between Australia and England in Test cricket.
Interestingly, MS Dhoni has not yet confirmed whether IPL 2025 will indeed be his last season. The 43-year-old, retained by CSK for Rs 4 crore before the IPL 2025 mega auction, remains a key figure for the franchise. The retention rule, which allows players who haven’t played international cricket for five years or more to be retained as uncapped players, enabled CSK to keep MS Dhoni on board without using an overseas retention slot.
Ahead of IPL 2025, MS Dhoni had hinted that he might still continue playing for a few more seasons. Speaking at an event in February, MS Dhoni had expressed his desire to enjoy the game just as he did during his childhood days. He recalled playing cricket at 4 PM every evening as a child and emphasized his wish to cherish the remaining years of his playing career.
MS Dhoni started the IPL 2025 season on a high note as CSK defeated Mumbai Indians in their opening match. The veteran wicketkeeper played a crucial role behind the stumps, pulling off a lightning-quick stumping to dismiss Suryakumar Yadav, which sent fans into a frenzy. Though he faced only two deliveries with the bat, staying unbeaten at the end, CSK’s victory was powered by strong performances from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra, who both scored half-centuries.
While Matthew Hayden’s decision may not sit well with CSK supporters, it is a testament to the pride Australian cricketers take in the Ashes. With the historic Test series scheduled for November 2025 to January 2026, Australia will be aiming to assert their dominance over England once again. As for CSK, only time will tell if MS Dhoni truly bids farewell after this season or continues to lead his beloved franchise for another year.
