Irfan Pathan said that Chennai Super Kings would not be complete without the presence of MS Dhoni, but admitted that the legendary wicket-keeper may be preparing for his final IPL season. Dhoni has been ever-present in the league since its inception and has become synonymous with CSK and its yellow jersey. He is preparing for his 19th season.
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Dhoni played 278 matches in the IPL and scored 5439 runs in that time. The former India skipper won five titles with the franchise as their captain before relinquishing the role ahead of the 2024 season. He briefly took charge last season as Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the campaign due to injury.
In an interview with JioHotstar, Pathan said that it would be difficult to imagine CSK and the IPL without Dhoni and his role will be to bring everyone in the team together. The former all-rounder feels that Dhoni will help groom Sanju Samson and Ruturaj as the future leaders of the franchise.
“CSK is incomplete without MS Dhoni. This season might be the last time we see him in the yellow jersey and it’s hard to imagine CSK and the IPL without him. This season, Dhoni will play an important role in bringing everyone together. I’m not sure how many matches he will play. But his presence in the dressing room will help a lot. Sanju will benefit because he will also be the leader of the group, just like Ruikwad. group, two or three guys are ready for the future.”
“That’s where MS Dhoni comes in. I hope he makes a difference. Questions about his fitness, batting position and whether he will play all the matches will keep coming. The CSK team management will take it one step at a time. They will definitely try to give him the perfect send-off by lifting his sixth IPL trophy,” said Pathan.
WILL DHONI PLAY FULL SEASON IN IPL 2026?
There were doubts about Dhoni’s participation in the upcoming season, but CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan cleared all the doubts with a strong statement. The ČSK boss said that Dhoni will play all the matchesbut his role will be decided by the team management.
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Published on:
March 13, 2026 1:59 PM IST
