'MS Dhoni will come out to bat at no.3': R Ashwin reveals MSD's new batting position in IPL 2026

Even after stepping away from international cricket, MS Dhoni remains a master of suspense for his fanbase, especially with Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 fast approaching. Despite persistent speculation regarding his retirement from IPL, the 44-year-old talisman shows no signs of slowing down. Having already completed six seasons with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) since his final India appearance in 2019, Dhoni has officially begun his preparations for the 19th IPL edition, resuming his training sessions in Ranchi a full two months before the tournament's expected start.

The narrative surrounding his future has intensified following a series of high-profile signings by CSK, most notably the acquisition of Indian wicket-keeper Sanju Samson. This shift in the roster has led many analysts to suggest that the 2026 season might finally see Dhoni transition into a non-playing mentorship role. However, this sentiment is not shared by everyone in the cricketing world, particularly those who have played alongside him.

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Looks like Dhoni will come out to bat at No.3 in the Powerplay: R Ashwin

Former CSK star Ravichandran Ashwin believes Dhoni still has a tactical evolution left in him. Rather than stepping aside, Ashwin suggests that the veteran skipper could take on a surprising new responsibility at the crease. He envisions Dhoni potentially moving up the order to exploit the batting Powerplay, adding yet another chapter to his storied career with the five-time champions.

“Dhoni looks set to play as he has already started practising. He’s looking fit. Some said he may not play in the 11, or this might be his last season. But it looks like he got motivated seeing Imran Tahir. Looking at him, it doesn’t look like he’ll bat at No.9. He looks like he’ll come out to bat at No.3 in the Powerplay and be the enforcer, the way he has begun practice,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

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CSK are looking to bounce back from a disappointing previous season where the team finished at the bottom of the points table. MS Dhoni also struggled to find his peak form during that campaign, managing only 196 runs across 14 matches with a strike rate of 135.17.

CSK’s batting is a tough one to stop: Ashwin

Despite those recent struggles, R Ashwin expressed high praise for the caliber of players the franchise has recruited for the upcoming season. He believes the squad is well-positioned for a successful "reset" as they aim to return to their winning ways.

“They’ve scouted very well and boast a powerhouse of a batting lineup. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Karthik Sharma, and Prashant Veer is a batting lineup, barring the inexperience in the last two, you ask how are teams going to stop this batting lineup? Even a 200 to 200 becomes really difficult for teams to stop CSK,” Ashwin added.

“Even Jamie Overton is going great guns. Only the combination CSK decides to go with is to be seen. Ayush Mhatre, irrespective of what happens in the U-19 World Cup, will deliver in the IPL. CSK’s batting is a tough one to stop. If they get the combination and momentum right, that is a batting lineup that’s really going to make work very difficult for bowlers around the tournament,” he concluded.

CSK's full squad for IPL 2026:

Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Akeal Hosein, MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Urvil Patel, Noor Ahmad, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Khaleel Ahmed, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Mukesh Choudhary, Jamie Overton, Gurjapneet Singh, Anshul Kamboj