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MS Dhoni is not likely to play as an impact player in the upcoming season for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Former CSK batter Subramaniam Badrinath, in his YouTube video, claimed that he had personal conversations with the former India and CSK skipper during which MS Dhoni himself provided some hints about his plans for the 2027 IPL.
Dhoni did not feature in a single match in the previous season of the Indian Premier League, mostly because of a calf injury that he sustained before the season opener. Later, there were speculations about his fitness-related issues, for which he might not have been able to push himself in a match. If Badrinath's comments are to be believed, then the 45-year-old keeper-batter will not feature in 2027 as an Impact Player of the Chennai Super Kings.
Subramaniam Badrinath reveals his personal chat with MS Dhoni
Subramaniam Badrinath, a former teammate of Dhoni, mentioned in his official YouTube video that during their personal conversations, MS Dhoni said that he saw himself as a full-time wicketkeeper.
If he wants to play as a keeper-batter, not as an impact player, then he will have to prepare his body for the entire match, which may be a very difficult task for him because of his age and his history of injuries.
S Badrinath expresses concern if MS Dhoni wishes to play in a full-time role at 45
Badrinath himself believes that MS Dhoni as an impact player will be most beneficial for the team. Raising concerns over Dhoni's fitness for a full 20-over match, the former batter highlighted that CSK's former head coach Stephen Fleming also issued the same concerns in the previous season. Additionally, if the franchise manages to utilise the impact player rule properly, it will provide them tactical flexibility as well.
"He has personally told me that he won't play as an Impact Player. He sees himself as a full-time keeper, and that means he has to be on the field for the full 20 overs. So he won't play as an Impact Player, but I feel if he does, it'll tactically benefit CSK," Badrinath said.
"His body cannot withstand long durations, which even Fleming has said. He is only going to bat after the 16th over and keep wickets. When his participation is so limited, he would be ideal as an Impact Player," he added.
S Badrinath takes a jab at CSK's Impact Player policy
Subramaniam Badrinath did not sound impressed with CSK's impact player moves in IPL 2026. In most of the cases, the team used pace-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube or the West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein. Interestingly, for India, Dube used to bowl regularly, but CSK used him mostly as a batter, not as an all-rounder.
"Shivam Dube bowling for India but not for CSK is not because of the Impact Player rule. It has to do with the CSK management and their lack of usage of Dube with the ball... Akeal Hosein should be a certainty in the playing 11. But CSK keeps him as an Impact Player, and then when they bat poorly, they end up using an extra batter as an Impact Player," the former cricketer added.
