Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter AB de Villiers made a remark about MS Dhoni ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. De Villiers said that if the veteran wicketkeeper continues to bat lower down the order without captaining, he is taking up a spot in the playing XI for the wrong reasons.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are entering the upcoming season after a disappointing campaign. They finished in 10th place in the points table in 2025. The franchise has explored lower middle-order and wicketkeeping options, raising questions about whether the 44-year-old fits into their current plans.
It’s Almost Making Up a Spot – AB de Villiers on MS Dhoni
AB de Villiers stated that the Chennai-based franchise needs to look beyond MS Dhoni for consistent on-field contributions. He added that the current setup requires strong collective team performances rather than relying on individual legacy to win the tournament.
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“If he is going to play the role of batting at No.8 or No.9, and not really captaining, then I just feel it’s almost making up a spot and just almost there for the wrong reasons,” he told Star Sports.
“It’s not the individual that go onto win a trophy, it ultimately ends up being a team performance. I do feel that Ruturaj and Sanju are the perfect players to take over from MS.”
Since the 2023 season, Dhoni has faced more than 20 deliveries in an innings only once. He has batted at No. 8 or below on 17 occasions.
I Don’t See a Point in MS Dhoni Batting… – Cheteshwar Pujara
Former India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara said that MS Dhoni should bat higher up the order to maximize his ability to control the pace of the innings. He noted that while loyalty remains part of the team culture, a clear transition is underway with a growing preference for younger players.
“I don’t see a point in MS Dhoni batting at No. 8 or 9, because he has the potential to turn games around single-handedly, something no other batter in the CSK team can do,” he said on Jiostar. “If he bats for only five or ten balls, imagine what Mahi bhai can do if he plays 25 or 30 balls.”
“I’ve been in the CSK setup. In that environment, players are very comfortable; it’s like a family. When you’re in that setup, there is clarity about what is expected of you as a player.”
“Loyalty also comes into the picture because most of CSK’s players, if you look at the history, stay for a long time once they become part of that setup. There is a transition in the team now, so there is a bit more preference for young players,” said Pujara.
Chennai Super Kings Strengthen Squad with Sanju Samson Trade
Chennai Super Kings secured Sanju Samson in an off-season trade. The five-time champions traded Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to the Rajasthan Royals (RR). The 31-year-old finished as India’s leading run-scorer with over 320 runs in five matches during the T20 World Cup 2026.
The franchise also added Kartik Sharma in the recent auction. They had signed Urvil Patel as an injury replacement during IPL 2025. These additions give the management multiple wicketkeeping options if they decide to move on from MS Dhoni behind the stumps.
The team will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on March 30. They will aim to bounce back after missing the playoffs for two straight seasons. The team finished at the bottom of the table last year with just four wins in 14 matches.
