Chennai Super Kings (CSK) veteran MS Dhoni received a rousing welcome at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai as he made a grand entrance at the CSK Roar 2026 event ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Cricket fans in Chepauk could not control their emotions as Dhoni walked out to the middle of the field to join his teammates for practice. In fact, the fan almost cried with joy as she saw her favorite cricketer walk to the ground.
MS Dhoni’s career in CSK
The legendary Indian captain has played for Chennai Super Kings in every season of the IPL, except 2016 and 2017 when the franchise was banned due to spot-fixing. Dhoni featured for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016 and 2017. In a total of 278 IPL matches, the 44-year-old scored 5439 runs.
This includes 24 half-centuries. He led Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles with the last one coming in 2023 when the Yellow Brigade defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final.
As the captain of Chennai Super Kings, Dhoni led the team in 244 matches, winning 145 and losing 96.
He finished his captaincy stint with a winning percentage of 59.42. Dhoni stepped down as captain ahead of the 2024 IPL season and Ruturaj Gaikwad took over. However, CSK failed to qualify for the play-offs in IPL 2024, finishing fifth just behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
In IPL 2025, CSK finished 10th and last with just eight points from 14 matches. Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the tournament midway due to injury and MS Dhoni took over. However, CSK’s fortunes did not change much as they endured a disappointing season.
Dhoni has endured tough seasons in the IPL recently. After IPL 2023, the former East Zone cricketer underwent surgery to treat a knee injury in Mumbai.
He then played IPL 2024 despite a muscle tear that limited his movement. Dhoni will play all the matches for CSK in IPL 2026, but CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan recently said that his role is still undecided. Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, Chennai Super Kings traded wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals (RR).
The five-time champions will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30.
