The perennial question regarding MS Dhoni’s future has resurfaced as the Indian Premier League caravan gears up for the 2026 season – will the iconic former captain feature in all Chennai Super Kings matches?
Dhoni, who will turn 45 later this year, will be available for CSK for the upcoming IPL seasona major franchise source confirmed.
However, with CSK’s acquisition of Sanju Samson now in the ranks, it seems unlikely that the legendary former India captain will play every league match.
“We can confirm that he is coming to Chennai and has confirmed his availability for the season,” a CSK source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
“Whether he’ll play all the games or not, we can’t say at this point,” the source added.
In any case, with the Impact Player rule, Dhoni’s batter was not much required in the last two editions. His role was largely situational, often limited to late sequence cameos.
Who are Dhoni’s replacements as wicketkeeper?
This season, ČSK has three starting goalkeepers in its lineup. Samson will certainly don the gloves in matches where Dhoni does not feature. The squad also includes Urvil Patel, apart from the 14.20 crore recruits, rookie Kartik Sharma who will be groomed as a finisher alongside Shivam Dube.
Dhoni has dealt with knee and back issues over the years and the physical demands of wicketkeeping, coupled with limited turnaround time between matches, can take a toll at this stage of his career.
However, Dhoni seems certain to play most of CSK’s home games in Chennai, where his mere walk into the Chepauk Arena sends the crowd into a frenzy, underscoring his enduring bond with the franchise and its loyal supporters.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
February 22, 2026
