MS Dhoni has officially begun his preparations for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, returning to his roots at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) in his hometown. The JSCA recently shared a video with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) showing the legendary captain gearing up for a net session, where he was seen alongside former teammate Saurabh Tiwary, who currently serves as the secretary of the association. This confirmation that Dhoni will return for at least one more season has energised the 'Yellow Army' fanbase.
MS Dhoni’s training video sends fans into frenzy
While Dhoni's participation is confirmed, his role may look slightly different this year. CSK’s high-profile acquisition of Sanju Samson via trade, finalised before the IPL 2026 mini-auction—suggests that Dhoni may not feature in every single match. Samson, who has solidified his spot in India’s national XI and is a key figure for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup, appears poised to take over the primary wicketkeeping duties and maintain a consistent presence in the starting lineup.
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Looking further ahead, this upcoming season may be one of the final chapters in Dhoni’s storied career. Speculation suggests he will evaluate his future after the 2027 season, particularly with a mega-auction scheduled for 2028. Many observers expect the iconic captain to officially hang up his boots following the next two seasons, marking the end of an era for both CSK and the IPL.
The 2025 IPL season saw a brief return to leadership for MS Dhoni after Ruturaj Gaikwad suffered an injury five matches into the tournament. Prior to the injury, the five-time champions had struggled significantly, securing only a single victory under Gaikwad's captaincy. While the team hoped Dhoni’s return would spark a resurgence, the momentum proved difficult to shift; CSK managed only four wins in their final nine games, ultimately resulting in a disappointing ninth-place finish on the points table.
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CSK look to return to winning ways in IPL 2026
Despite the challenges of the previous season, Ruturaj Gaikwad remains the designated full-time captain and is set to lead the squad once again in 2026. This transition originally began before the 2024 season when Dhoni stepped down, a move that was famously confirmed only when Gaikwad appeared at the official captains' photoshoot. Since securing the 2023 title with a dramatic victory over the Gujarat Titans, the franchise has struggled to replicate that success, failing to progress past the opening round in subsequent years.
Heading into the 2026 season, CSK has shifted its strategy to focus heavily on youth and fresh talent. In addition to the major trade for Sanju Samson, the front office made waves at the mini-auction by committing substantial resources to two rising stars. CSK spent a combined Rs 28.40 crore to secure Prashant Veer and Karthik Sharma, with both players fetching individual price tags of Rs 14.20 crore. These bold investments signal a clear intent to rebuild the team's core and return to their winning ways.
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