The perennial question surrounding MS Dhoni’s future has resurfaced once again as the Indian Premier League caravan prepares for the 2026 season — will the iconic former skipper feature in all matches for Chennai Super Kings this year?
Dhoni, who will turn 45 later this year, will be available for CSK for the upcoming IPL season, a senior franchise source has confirmed.
However, with CSK’s marquee acquisition Sanju Samson now in the ranks, it appears unlikely that the legendary former India captain will play every league game.
“We can confirm that he is coming to Chennai and has confirmed his availability for the season,” a senior CSK source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
“Whether he will play all the games or not is something we cannot say at the moment,” the source added.
In any case, with the Impact Player rule in place, Dhoni the batter has not been required extensively over the past two editions. His role has largely been situational, often limited to late-order cameos.
Who are Dhoni’s replacements as wicketkeeper?
This season, CSK have three wicketkeeper batters in their line-up. Samson is certain to don the gloves in matches where Dhoni does not feature. There is also Urvil Patel in the squad, in addition to the 14.20 crore recruit, rookie Kartik Sharma, who will be groomed as a finisher alongside Shivam Dube.
Over the years, Dhoni has managed issues related to his knee and back, and the physical demands of keeping wicket, coupled with limited turnaround time between matches, can take a toll at this stage of his career.
What appears certain, however, is that Dhoni will play most of CSK’s home fixtures in Chennai, where his mere walk into the Chepauk arena sends the crowd into a frenzy, underlining his enduring bond with the franchise and its loyal supporters.
