Watch: MS Dhoni arrives in Chennai for CSK camp ahead of IPL 2026 to huge welcome by Thala fans

In preparation for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, legendary MS Dhoni came to Chennai on Saturday, February 28, to join the Chennai Super Kings' preseason training camp. Many fans flocked to the airport to see the legendary cricket player, and the former captain was greeted with thunderous applause.

Dhoni did not show up in Chennai with a T-shirt bearing a message, unlike the previous year. In a video posted by the Super Kings on their official channels, the 44-year-old was seen leaving Chennai airport while wearing blue trousers and a maroon round-neck T-shirt.

Dhoni wore a T-shirt with a mysterious message when he arrived in Chennai last year. The Morse code letter was swiftly decoded by fans to read "One last time," which led to conjecture on his future. The IPL 2025 season was thought by many fans to be Dhoni's final participation, despite the fact that he did not respond to the message.

But Dhoni continued to play for the Super Kings in all 14 games, even captaining the team during Ruturaj Gaikwad's injury-plagued second half of the season.

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In order to get ready for the IPL 2026 season, which is set to start in the last week of March, Dhoni had been practicing hard in Ranchi. When he first arrived in Chennai, he looked well-groomed, demonstrating his ongoing dedication to being in top physical shape even though he was nearing the end of his career.

In keeping with a long-standing custom, Dhoni visited the historic Deori Maa Temple in Tamar, about 60 kilometers from Ranchi, before leaving for Chennai on February 28 to join the CSK preseason camp.

At the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) Stadium in Ranchi, Dhoni adhered to a strict daily training schedule. He started his practices at around 1:30 PM every day and finished five-hour training blocks created especially to increase endurance for the rigorous Indian summer.

A change in equipment has been one of the most significant technical adjustments in his preparation this year. Dhoni, who has a reputation for using some of the heaviest bats in cricket, frequently weighing up to 1.3 kg, has switched to a specially made 1.23 kg bat for the 2026 campaign.

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