New Delhi: Where to do it? MS Dhoni Featured in Chennai Super Kings Playing XI? Will he emerge as an impact player? Will he bat at his usual No. 7 or No. 8 position? How many matches will he play this season? And will IPL 2026 be his last? These questions are currently circulating.CSK, the five-time IPL champions, will begin their IPL 2026 campaign on March 30 against Rajasthan Royals at the Baraspara Cricket Stadium.At 44, with recurring knee problems and wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson in the mix, are there signs that it might be time? Dhoni Call it a day?In fact, Dhoni himself admitted during a CSK event that his fitness is not what it used to be, saying ‘it’s on the way down’.
Former Indian cricketer Akash Chopra believes that the time has come for the veteran to retire.“You don’t run a team from the dugout, it’s not football. In cricket, you need to get on the field, and MS Dhoni’s greatest asset is his ability to read the game better than anyone else. That clarity and conviction makes him who he is. In any case, I think this could be his last season. His heir apparent now, Sanju Smaglu could be at this stage.” Again, conditions apply depending on MS Dhoni’s fitness and his knee but if he is playing as an impact player then I think it’s time for him to talk on Geostar’s ‘IPL Today Live’.Dhoni has been the cornerstone of CSK, leading the team to five IPL titles. He has played 278 matches, scoring 5439 runs at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45, including 24 fifties.Known for the ‘Daddy’s Army’ tag in the past, CSK has begun a transition towards a young squad. Last season players like Dewald Brews, Ayush Mahatre and Arul Patel were part of the setup. This year, the franchise has added Nathan Ellis, Sarfraz Khan, Karthik Sharma and Prashant Vir.“A little analogy is, if you want your child to start walking, you have to hold their hand and teach them to run, but if you want them to run, you have to let go. If you keep holding, they will never learn to run. From Dhoni’s point of view, if someone is anointed as the next captain, he has to step back,” and I think Chopra has already said that.“If you look at the auction and the way the team is built, this is not the team that MS Dhoni would have built if it was left entirely to him. Will he go with so many youngsters at once? This is Rituraj Gaikwad’s team. MS Dhoni will observe things and not say too much. He may give advice here and there, but this is where he blocks well at international level, along with Virat at international level. Allows you to grow and develop. And he is always there if they ask for help,” he signed off.Chennai Super Kings Complete Squad for IPL 2026: Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapaneet Singh, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmed, Ramkrishna Ghosh, Sanju Samson, Rituraj Gaikwad, Shivam Dubey, Shreyas Gopal, Syed Khalil Ahmed, Ayush Mahatre, Devald Brews, Arveel Patel (5 lakh), Arveel Khan (5) 14.20 crore), Prashant Vir. (Rs. 14.20 crores). Crore, Matthew Short (Rs 1.50 Crore), Aman Khan (Rs 40 Lakh), Zach Foulkes (Rs 75 Lakh), Akil Hussain (Rs 2 Crore), Rahul Chahar (Rs 5.2 Crore), Matt Henry (Rs 2 Crore).
