Former Team India captain MS Dhoni reached Chennai on Saturday, February 28, ahead of the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The veteran wicketkeeper arrived in the city, and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will begin their pre-season camp on March 1 for the upcoming marquee tournament.
Dhoni is set to feature in another season for Chennai Super Kings. On Instagram, the franchise shared a video of his arrival in Chennai. The 44-year-old was seen signing an autograph for a fan before leaving the airport under tight security, as a large crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the star cricketer.
MS Dhoni to Be Part of CSK’s Pre-Season Camp for IPL 2026
According to a Cricbuzz report, Chennai Super Kings will begin their preparations for the upcoming IPL season on Sunday, March 1. The five-time IPL champions will be working hard to bounce back after finishing at the bottom of the table last year.
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The franchise confirmed that a training camp will start, with all Indian players expected to report. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed that MS Dhoni will also be part of the camp.
“Yes I can confirm that our camp will commence tomorrow and MS Dhoni also will be part of it. We are expecting everyone to be here by Sunday,” Kasi Viswanathan told Cricbuzz on Saturday (February 28).
CSK to Begin Pre-Season Camp With Indian Players Only
15 Indian players will take part in the Chennai Super Kings preparatory camp at the franchise’s high-performance centre in Chennai. The camp will begin with only domestic players, as several squad members are still involved in other tournaments.
Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, who are currently playing in the T20 World Cup, will join the camp after the tournament ends on March 7. Shreyas Gopal, who recently featured in the Ranji Trophy final for Karnataka, will also report at a later stage.
Assistant coaches Sridharan Sriram and Rajeev Kumar will oversee the camp. Some overseas players and members of the coaching staff are expected to arrive later, but their schedules remain uncertain.
The ongoing war in the Middle East has created doubts over the travel plans of foreign players. Their arrival will depend on how the situation develops, and the franchise is still waiting for clarity on the exact schedule of the season.
MS Dhoni Retained for ₹4 Crore Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction
Chennai Super Kings retained MS Dhoni ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 auction. The franchise had retained Dhoni for ₹4 crore under the uncapped player category before the IPL 2025 season. He also returned as captain in the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad.
However, the Chennai-based franchise endured a difficult season last year. Dhoni led the side for most of the campaign, but the five-time champions finished at the bottom of the table. They managed only four wins from 14 matches across the season.
Dhoni also struggled to make an impact with the bat. He scored 196 runs from 13 innings, averaging 24.50 with a strike rate of 135.17. His highest score was an unbeaten 30. CSK will now look to regroup and deliver a stronger performance in the IPL 2026 season.
Also read: India vs West Indies Weather Report, Super 8s: Rain forecast for T20 World Cup 2026 match
