Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO Kasi Viswanathan has confirmed the legendary MS Dhoni's availability for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. CSK CEO officially confirmed Sports Tak that Dhoni will play the IPL 2026.
MS Dhoni to play IPL 2026
This confirmation puts an end to the perennial speculation regarding the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman's retirement, ensuring his presence in the Yellow Jersey' for at least one more year.
"MS Dhoni is available for 2026 IPL season," Kasi Viswanathan told Sports Tak.
Dhoni’s legacy with CSK is unparalleled, having spearheaded the franchise to five IPL championships in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023. Now 44, his longevity continues to defy expectations, maintaining his status as the cornerstone of the team’s identity and success over the last two decades.
The former Indian captain has been a constant fixture for Chennai throughout the league's history, with only a brief two-year hiatus in 2016 and 2017. During that period, while CSK served a suspension following the 2013 spot-fixing scandal, Dhoni represented the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant.
Since the inaugural season in 2008, Dhoni has been the cornerstone of the Chennai Super Kings, appearing in 272 matches. During this tenure, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter has amassed 5,314 runs at an impressive average of 38.23. His personal best remains a memorable unbeaten 84 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru during the 2019 season.
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Dhoni’s leadership has been just as impactful as his batting; he has captained the side in 244 matches, securing 145 victories against 96 losses. This gives him a formidable win percentage of 59.42%. While the franchise attempted to transition leadership to Ravindra Jadeja in 2022, Dhoni was forced to retake the reins midway through that season after a poor start. Despite his return, the team finished in ninth place and missed the playoffs.
The captaincy saga continued in recent years, starting with Ruturaj Gaikwad taking over in 2024. Although the team finished fifth that year, 2025 proved more difficult. When an injury sidelined Gaikwad midway through the season, Dhoni once again stepped into the leadership role. However, it was a challenging campaign for the Yellow Brigade as they finished at the bottom of the table with only eight points.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Dhoni has been retained for Rs 4 crore under the IPL's uncapped player rule. He joins a retained core that includes Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, and Noor Ahmad. In a significant roster shake-up, long-time stars Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran have been traded to the Rajasthan Royals.
In a blockbuster exchange, CSK has acquired Sanju Samson from the Rajasthan Royals. The move marks the end of the Kerala cricketer's long-standing association with the Royals and sets the stage for a new era in the Chennai batting lineup alongside the returning Dhoni.
CSK's full squad after auction:
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