Cricketers likely to retire after IPL 2025 season

MS Dhoni walking back (Source: R. SATISH BABU/AFP via Getty Images)

The IPL 2025 is nearly coming to an end, and the focus is slowly shifting towards the Playoffs and beyond. While the teams to take part in the Playoffs, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, and RCB, will focus on winning the title, other teams will hope to come back stronger in the upcoming edition. Teams will have to think about the retention and release of some of their players.

The focus will shift towards the players who are aged and approaching the last few years of their careers. Some veterans have been playing the IPL since the late 2000s and are likely to retire in the upcoming seasons. While some of them could have played their last match in the IPL, there is uncertainty over the availability of some key players of the league.

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Here are the five players who might have played their last IPL game this year:

5. Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali will soon turn 38 and is one of those cricketers to have retired from the highest level to concentrate on playing in T20 leagues. However, IPL is the most competitive league, and Moeen might have reached a stage where he might not get bids, considering his age and growing demand for other roles.

While Ali has been one of the key overseas players in the IPL in the last few years, the demand for certain roles has increased in the last few seasons. Not all overseas spinners get bids from the franchises, as they could get uncapped spinners at a cheaper price. Not to forget, Moeen is not the same batter he was a few years ago.

4. Vijay Shankar 

Vijay Shankar has repeatedly gotten chances in the IPL, only to not make the most of them. While his best stint came for the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2023, the right-handed batter has been woefully out of form since then. For CSK, Shankar could not bat with intent in the IPL 2025 and could be released before the IPL 2026.

With him not being able to evolve with time and better players emerging from the domestic circuits, Shankar could find it hard to even get bids. While he could work on his cricket and make a comeback, at this point in his career, it seems as if it might take a massive effort for him to have the trust of the owners.

3. Faf Du Plessis 

Faf Du Plessis has been one of the best players in the history of the IPL. The right-handed batter had his worst season with the bat in the IPL 2025 with the Delhi Capitals, at the age of nearly 41. For the former multiple-time IPL winner, age is the biggest concern, as he was the second-oldest player in the IPL 2025.

Du Plessis is someone who has gotten better with age. However, there are not a lot of players who have successfully played in the IPL after crossing the age of 40. Du Plessis could potentially think about his future in cricket. There could be a case for him retiring from all forms of cricket.

2. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni has repeatedly claimed that he would think multiple times before deciding on his future in the IPL. Being the oldest player in the IPL 2025 and one of the oldest cricketers to have played the league, Dhoni is always prone to retirement, especially in the last few years, where fitness has been a huge concern for him.

Playing in a competitive league like the IPL at the age of 44 is unheard of, especially for a wicketkeeper batter. It might need a herculean effort for Dhoni to assess his fitness to be in the team. In the next 6 months, one might know about Dhoni’s future in the league. One must not be surprised if he decides to retire from cricket.

1. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin did not have a great season with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2025. The experienced player announced his retirement from International cricket earlier this year during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. The legendary Test cricketer was picked by CSK for a huge sum, which could change in the IPL 2026.

CSK could look to move on from Ashwin, as the purse they would get by releasing him would help them to go for better options in the auctions. While he could make a case for getting picked by other franchises, with him being 39 by the start of the IPL 2026, one must not be surprised if he does not get a bid from any team.