Confirmed News: MS Dhoni to play in IPL 2026
Chennai Super Kings have confirmed that MS Dhoni will be part of the next IPL season, with the franchise confident of his availability ahead of the player retention deadline.
Franchise CEO Kasi Viswanathan, who has been associated with CSK since its inception in 2008, reaffirmed that Dhoni has communicated his intention to continue. Speaking to media on Friday, Viswanathan said, “MS has told us that he will be available for the next season.”
Dhoni, 44, had stepped down as captain before the 2024 season after leading CSK to 5 IPL titles but returned to the role following Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury. Despite his limited appearances last year due to fitness issues, Dhoni remains a central figure in the team’s setup.
Viswanathan added, “We are hopeful that he would play. He hasn’t said no so far, so we expect him to play the next season as well.”
Dhoni had earlier spoken about enjoying his remaining years in cricket. At an event in August, he discussed CSK’s squad composition, saying the team was strong in batting but needed to fill a few gaps.
“I think our batting order is quite sorted out now. Rutu (Gaikwad) will be coming back. A small auction is coming in December. You know some holes are there, and we will try to plug those in… The next year when you turn up again, you have to start from scratch,” Dhoni had said.
While no official communication has come from the franchise via their social media or website, CSK did post a cryptic message which has sparked conversations further.
The wicketkeeper-batter was retained by the team as an “uncapped player” before the 2025 mega auction. A rule change last year permitted Indian players who have not featured in international cricket for 5 years to go into the auction as “uncapped”. Dhoni was retained by CSK for 4 Cr, Ruturaj Gaikwad for 18 Cr, Ravindra Jadeja for 18 Cr, Matheesha Pathirana for 13 Cr and Shivam Dube for 12 Cr.
CSK are expected to hold a meeting in the coming days involving Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad and head coach Stephen Fleming to finalise retention plans for 2026 ahead of the November 15 deadline.
Reports suggest the franchise has been exploring options for a wicketkeeper trade. Sanju Samson of Rajasthan Royals has emerged as a potential target, with CSK believed to have offered one of their senior players in exchange. Talks are ongoing, nothing so far is certain and further discussions are expected this week.
CSK had a tough 2025 season, finishing bottom of the points table for the first time in franchise history. The team managed only 4 wins from 14 matches, marking the first time it missed the playoffs in consecutive years.
If Dhoni features next season, it will mark his 17th season for the Chennai Super Kings and 19th overall in the IPL. Since the league’s debut in 2008, Dhoni has played 248 matches for Chennai, scoring 4,865 runs and leading the side to 5 titles — in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023.