MS Dhoni to retire after IPL 2026? The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is just around the corner. The blockbuster tournament is scheduled to begin on March 28, 2026. Reigning Champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the opening game of the competition. So far, the IPL committee has announced the first 20 matches due to the Assembly Elections.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already started their training for the mega event. The five-time champions will forget their last season, where they finished at the bottom of the points table for the first time in the franchise’s history. They have built a brand new squad with MS Dhoni still sticking around as a player for the team.
MS Dhoni, the King of CSK
Though MS Dhoni has left captaincy after the 2023 edition of the IPL, and handed over the responsibility to Ruturaj Gaikwad, the latter still continues as a player for the franchise.
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Dhoni has one of the best unique connections with CSK. MS Dhoni has been associated with the team since the league’s founding in 2008. He is the only player till now to have been associated with the franchise.
However, with age catching up, the former India captain is now 44, and he has not been at his very best in the last few seasons in the tournament. His instincts have slowed down, and he comes at bat for just a few balls now and cannot bat longer and finish games for the side.
Where will CSK fit in Dhoni?
Now with CSK trading in Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals (RR) for INR 18 crore, the question arises whether Dhoni will play all the matches, as Samson is a regular keeper for the India National Cricket Team and also kept wickets for the Royals.
The impact player rule has also made Dhoni’s involvement very limited. He is now often used as a lower No.8 batter, coming in for a few balls to score quick runs. While this strategy has worked occasionally, it has also resulted in inconsistency for the wicket-keeper batter.
CSK also has the option of Kartik Sharma, who is a flamboyant young batter who can hit long sixes and even keep wickets as well. The Men in Yellow have been in a phase of transition, and now the headache arises for the management to fit in Dhoni in the squad.
Is IPL 2026 the end of MS Dhoni?
With Dhoni, Samson, and Kartik, there are three wicket-keepers in the team. Do they really want three wicket-keepers in the squad to play? Where does MS Dhoni fit in a side that is slowly moving towards transition?
The team that only relied on experienced campaigners bought two uncapped players, Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, for nearly INR 30 crore in the auction. This showcases the management’s change in philosophy. They have this headache of not fitting in their most experienced player in the squad.
IPL 2026 can finally be that season where they bid farewell to their most successful captain, Dhoni, as the player himself might retire after this season, keeping in mind the young players in the side.
Also Read: Why did Ricky Ponting allow Marco Jansen to join Punjab Kings late for IPL 2026?
