Whether MS Dhoni will feature in Chennai Super Kings' final home game of the IPL 2026 season remains a mystery that only the legendary captain himself can solve. However, his former India teammate Harbhajan Singh strongly believes that the veteran wicketkeeper-batter should take the field for this highly anticipated fixture.
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Play or else I’ll drag you onto the ground myself: Harbhajan Singh on MS Dhoni
Expressing his views on JioHotstar's "Champions Wali Commentary," the former iconic India spinner made a direct appeal to Dhoni, urging him to play in front of the Chennai faithful. The match will mark CSK's final appearance of the season at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, making it a momentous occasion for the fans at Chepauk who are desperate to see their beloved "Thala" in action one last time on home turf.
"He had said that he would like to play his last match in Chennai. And now the time has come. This is the last match in Chennai. We may see Thala (Dhoni) playing. And if he doesn't play, it means he will come again next year. Then he will say that next year you will see me playing my last match. You never know with him," said Harbhajan.
“Brother, just play tomorrow, Dhoni, please play. Otherwise I’ll come to your Chennai, and if needed, I’ll drag you onto the ground myself and ask you to play,” he said.
Suspense grows over MS Dhoni's participation
The Yellow Brigade are scheduled to play their final home game of the season on Monday at Chepauk, a match that has seen speculation surrounding MS Dhoni's participation reach a fever pitch. The 44-year-old Dhoni has yet to feature in the IPL 2026 season as he continues to recover from a persistent calf strain. While the veteran right-handed batter has been actively participating in net sessions, it remains highly uncertain whether he will finally return to CSK's playing XI for this critical encounter.
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The stakes could not be higher for the franchise, as CSK is currently sitting in sixth place on the points table with 12 points. To keep their playoff qualifications alive, they desperately need convincing victories in their remaining two league-stage matches.
The five-time champions enter this high-stakes fixture on the heels of a disappointing seven-wicket defeat against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their previous outing. Despite a rough start to the tournament that began with three consecutive losses, CSK managed to turn their season around and firmly establish themselves as serious contenders for a spot in the playoffs.