MS Dhoni once again created excitement among Chennai Super Kings fans after they joked about playing IPL under 60 during a light-hearted interaction at Chepauk. The CSK icon, now 44, drew loud cheers when he responded to actor Sivakarthikeyan’s playful request to continue playing for years to come.
The moment came during a CSK fan event on March 22, where Sivakarthikeyan shared the stage with the IPL 2026 team and spoke about his journey as a fan of both the side and MS Dhoni. Urging Dhoni to ignore retirement talk and to continue wearing the yellow jersey, the actor’s request was met with a humorous but telling response. During the interview, Dhoni said that staying fit at his age is becoming more difficult than raising hopes among CSK fans.
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“It’s going to be hard, but I can try.
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The remark drew a heated response from the Chepauk crowd and video of the exchange quickly went viral across social media.
Dhoni, who will play his 19th IPL season, remains one of the most iconic figures in the league. With 278 matches and 5439 runs, he was central to CSK’s journey, leading the franchise to five IPL titles before stepping down as captain ahead of the 2024 season. Although he briefly returned to lead the team last year after Ruturaj Gaikwad was injured, the team is now firmly moving into a new phase of leadership.
WILL IPL 2026 BE MS DHONI’S LAST?
Speculations about Dhoni’s future continue to grow, especially considering his evolving role on the team. While CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has confirmed that Dhoni will be available for the entire IPL 2026 season, his exact role is expected to be more flexible and driven by the team.
Over the past few seasons, Dhoni’s responsibilities on the field have gradually reduced. After handing over the captaincy to Gaikwad, he has largely operated as a finisher, often coming in late to maximize scoring in the final overs. The impact compensation rule further limited his involvement, making his performance more situational.
At the same time, the composition of the CSK team indicates a transition. With players like Sanju Samson now in the set-up, even the wicket responsibilities could be shared or eventually transferred. Despite this, Dhoni’s experience and presence remain invaluable, especially after CSK endured a difficult IPL 2025 season where they finished at the bottom of the table.
With the franchise looking to rebuild under Gaikwad, IPL 2026 could represent both a fresh start and a potential farewell chapter for one of the greatest players in the history of the tournament.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
March 22, 2026 10:35 PM IST
