MS Dhoni Set for IPL 2026, But May Not Play All Matches for CSK

Along with rumours about how many games the wicketkeeper-batter will play for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), discussions over veteran cricketer MS Dhoni's availability for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season have returned. Later this year, Dhoni will be forty-five.

When CSK was barred from the league in 2016 and 2017, he spent two seasons playing for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant (RPSG). For the past few seasons, Dhoni's future has been a major topic of discussion. With around a month to go before the IPL 2026 season begins, Viswanathan addressed the contentious issue and disclosed that the 44-year-old will participate in the forthcoming campaign.

Previously, CSK paid INR 18 crore to Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the services of Sanju Samson. Discussions about Dhoni playing a smaller role and not appearing in every league game during the 2026 Indian Premier League have been sparked by this move. A CSK source revealed, "We can confirm that he is coming to Chennai and has confirmed his availability for the season. Whether he will play all the games or not is something we cannot say at the moment."

MS Dhoni in IPL 2026:

Meanwhile, NDTV quotes Viswanathan saying, "He will play, he will play." Dhoni recently ruled out the idea of taking a microphone inside the commentary box during discussions about his playing future, calling the well-liked post-retirement role a "difficult" balancing act driven by statistics that he finds difficult to recall.

In any event, Dhoni, the batter, has not been needed as much during the last two editions due to the Impact Player rule. Five-time IPL champion with CSK, MS Dhoni resigned from international cricket in August 2020, and his role has mostly been situational, frequently confined to late-order cameos.

Before the forthcoming IPL season, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan provided insight into Dhoni's playing future. Since the IPL's launch in 2008, Dhoni has been a member of the team. Additionally, he played for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant (RPSG) for two seasons in 2016 and 2017, following CSK's league ban.

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