Ex-CSK star drops retirement hint of MS Dhoni ahead of IPL 2026

Irfan Pathan backs MS Dhoni to play another season: The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is just weeks away. The IPL is set to begin on 28th March 2026, with reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the opening game of the tournament. The teams are all gearing up for the mega event, which is set to run for nearly two months.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already started their preparation for the IPL 2026. Former captain MS Dhoni has also joined the camp and has been seen doing his batting sessions. He has been one of the oldest players in the IPL as of now, with the age of 44. MS Dhoni has won five IPL trophies with CSK as a captain.

CSK is incomplete without MS Dhoni- Irfan Pathan

Ahead of the IPL, former CSK all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shared his views on MS Dhoni’s importance for the franchise and his role in this edition of the IPL. Speaking to JioHotstar, Irfan stated that it is hard to imagine CSK or the IPL without Dhoni.

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Irfan said, "CSK is incomplete without MS Dhoni. This season might be the last time we see him in the yellow jersey and it is tough to imagine CSK and the IPL without him. This season, Dhoni will play an important role in bringing everyone together."

"I ain’t sure how many games he (Dhoni) will play. But his presence in the dressing room will help a lot. Sanju will benefit because he will be part of the leadership group as well," Irfan added.

Is this MS Dhoni's last season of IPL?

There have been rumours that this might be the last season of Dhoni, as, despite defying age, his instincts as a batter have gone down, with T20 cricket now being played in a different form and aggression, his ability to strike the ball has slowed down a bit.

The CSK management has dropped a hint as well, by trading in Sanju Samson from the Rajasthan Royals, while letting go of Ravindra Jadeja in the trade of Sanju. This is a clear indication that Sanju Samson might be taking up the glove work, and MS Dhoni might not even play all the matches as well.

Dhoni has played in 278 IPL games and scored 5,439 runs. He has been among the seven players who remains since the IPL began in 2008. The others are Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, and Ishant Sharma.

CSK management have changed its philosophy

The philosophy of the CSK management has also changed, with the previously considered picking experienced players in the auction and winning the titles with experienced cricketers. Now, with Ruturaj Gaikwad being the captain for the last couple of seasons, there has been a change in tactics as well.

CSK spent nearly 30 crores in buying two uncapped Indian players, Kartik Sharma and Prasanth Veer, as both the cricketers were bought for a price of INR 14.20 crore each. They became the joint-most expensive uncapped players in IPL history. This showcases the change in philosophy and tactics of the management.

Also Read: Delhi Capitals coach reveals desire to buy Pakistan players