Suresh Raina-MS Dhoni reunion cancelled! CSK deny coaching position to Chinna Thala

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO Kasi Viswanathan has left the fans disappointed over MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026).

There was a lot of excitement among fans about the possible return of Suresh Raina to the Chennai Super Kings camp in a coaching role ahead of the next Indian Premier League season.

Actually, some media reports claimed that Raina could join the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a fielding coach ahead of the IPL 2026, starting on March 28. The news excited many, as they were set to see the famous CSK duo of MS Dhoni and Raina back together again.

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CSK shuts down MS Dhoni–Suresh Raina reunion buzz ahead of IPL 2026

However, the CSK has now shut down the speculation completely. The CEO Kasi Viswanathan has made it clear that the reports about Raina taking up a coaching role are completely baseless. There is no plan to appoint the former CSK legend as fielding coach.

Viswanathan stated: “Suresh Raina is not the fielding coach. It’s a baseless rumor.”

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Even though Raina, who is also known as “Chinna Thala,” is one of the most loved players in CSK history and also known as one of the best fielders the IPL has seen, he is likely to continue working as a commentator in the upcoming IPL 2026.

MS Dhoni will play all the matches: Kasi Viswanathan

Well, there were many doubts among fans about whether Dhoni would play the entire 2026 season because of his age and workload. However, the franchise has brought relief to the fans as the legendary cricketer is likely to play all the games for them.

Viswanathan said that the final call will be taken by the team management during the season, but Dhoni is expected to be available for the full campaign. The Chennai Super Kings CEO added, “He will play all the matches, according to me.”

Devajit Saikia drops big update on IPL 2026 schedule

Meanwhile, Devajit Saikia, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has recently shared an update about the schedule of the upcoming IPL 2026.

He said that the BCCI and IPL Governing Council are working on the planning for the upcoming season, and their schedule will be announced in two parts.

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Saikia was quoted as saying by ANI: “We will announce the first 20-day schedule of IPL in 2 or 3 days after considering the election dates in a few states and will announce the rest of the tournament schedule later.”

CSK to face RCB in the IPL 2026 opener

On the other hand, the IPL 2026 opener could turn out to be a blockbuster. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are likely to begin their title defense in front of their home fans in Bengaluru when the new season starts on March 28.

The RCB are expected to face the five-time champions CSK in the season opener at their home ground in Bengaluru on March 28. This possible matchup has already created massive buzz among fans, as both teams have some of the biggest supporters in the league.

Notably, RCB will play five home matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, while the remaining two home matches will be held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur following the stampede tragedy in 2025.