As MS Dhoni is nearing his final chapter as a player in the Indian Premier League (IPL), there has been a lot of chatter around the keeper-batter’s role in the upcoming season for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stated that Dhoni should now play the entire season if the team asks him to play as an Impact Player.
After the inclusion of Sanju Samson into the squad, Dhoni’s role as a keeper-batter becomes doubtful. The team is yet to decide for which role they will ask their former captain to contribute. Some believe that the veteran can play as an Impact Player when the team needs some extra runs in the closing moments of matches.
Should MS Dhoni play as an impact batter in IPL 2026?
In the previous season, MS Dhoni, who used to come in to bat at the number seven position, pushed himself down in the batting order to allow the other players to perform in the middle. IPL 2025 was not amongst the best from the former captain.
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He finished with 196 runs from 14 matches, averaging 24.50 at a strike rate of 135.17. Dhoni’s latest tendency to come late in the batting order raised the chances of seeing him as an impact batter in the 2026 season.
Former India and CSK player, Ravichandran Ashwin, strongly commented that the 44-year-old should be allowed to play in a full-time role, not as an impact substitute.
MS Dhoni should not play the entire season: Ravichandran Ashwin
“I do not agree that he has to stay on the impact list. If he is in the squad, he has to play. If he does not want to, he should not play the entire season; that is it. I am not in agreement with him being an impact player,” Ravichandran Ashwin opined on his YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’.
Ashwin feels that Dhoni will have to take a major role in the upcoming season, mostly because of his leadership qualities.
The former spinner, who played for the Chennai Super Kings, watched the ‘Captain Cool’ closely and knows his ability to groom the young players. This year, CSK has a lot of emerging talents who need to be groomed, and Dhoni will be the best person to do that.
How will a 44-year-old MS Dhoni help CSK in IPL 2026?
Apparently, the experienced keeper-batter will be helpful for the captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, in making decisions during crucial moments.
“I think Dhoni will have a critical role to support this new bowling line-up on the field. I was also there last year. MS Dhoni wants to play the last three overs. But the top order did not score many times and he had to go up”, R Ashwin mentioned.
“This time, they have added power in the top order to avoid this. Maybe this time, out of 14 games, he will get to bat higher only in 3-4 games, or else he will only come in the end. His biggest role will be in keeping, setting the field, and giving a shoulder to Ruturaj,” he continued further.
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