AB de Villiers has questioned MS Dhoni’s role in Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2026, saying the legendary wicketkeeper-palter needs to move up the batting order or risk “making room” for the wrong reasons.
Dhoni is one of the few players who has been a part of the Indian Premier League since its inception in 2008. Over nearly two decades, he has been among the best match-winners the tournament has seen and has made CSK one of its most successful and popular franchises. But at 44, his career had reached a point where questions about his place in the party are becoming harder to ignore.
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His role has steadily diminished over the years. He handed over the captaincy to Ruturaji Gaikwad and with him ahead of the 2024 season Sanju Samson now in the CSK setupeven his goalkeeping duties could be handed over. The introduction of the batting substitute rule further narrowed his function, reducing him to a late-order batsman who comes in to face a handful of deliveries and tries to maximize. It worked at times, but the inconsistency of that role only added to the scrutiny of his place in the playing XI.
LEGEND RUNNING OFF THE ROAD
Ever since CSK won the title in 2023, speculation about Dhoni’s retirement has been a constant backdrop to every IPL season. Still, he kept marching on, and with that persistence comes a growing debate about whether he risks outstaying his welcome with the franchise he built.
Talking about JioHotstar, de Villiers acknowledged the weight of what Dhoni represents, noting that a brand like him is not built by an individual alone but is shaped over the years by the fans who invest in it. But he was careful to separate sentiment from choice. “I don’t see a role in MS batting at 8 or 9 and he’s not really doing enough,” de Villiers said.
“If he’s going to play a batting role at 8 or 9 and not really be the captain, then I feel like he’s almost making a place for himself and he’s almost there for the wrong reasons. And that’s not a position he deserves to be in.”
DO NOT DROP HIGHER OR STEP
De Villiers was clear that he still sees a place for Dhoni in CSK, but only on different terms. “He has to bat at No. 6 at the latest. I would even like to see him at No. 5 or 4 at some point,” he said, adding that Dhoni needs to come under more pressure and be the man entrusted with handling the big moments.
He also credited Dhoni for being patient in waiting for the right successor and identified Samson as the ideal candidate to take over the reins. But the message was clear: if Dhoni is to feature in IPL 2026, it must be merit, not legacy.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
17 March 2026 11:14 IST
