IPL 2026: MS Dhoni’s Role in CSK Sparks Debate Ahead of Season!

With the IPL 2026 season just two weeks away, discussions have intensified about the role MS Dhoni will play for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) this year. CSK will begin their campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 30, and the team’s young players have already started training sessions. Dhoni was also seen practicing in recent videos circulating on social media. Former CSK cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath said it will be interesting to see what decision the team management takes regarding Dhoni’s role in the upcoming season.

Badrinath noted that while the CSK CEO stated Dhoni is ready to play all matches, it remains unclear whether that is purely an administrative decision. He questioned whether head coach Stephen Fleming or anyone in the CSK management could ask Dhoni to sit out a match or play only as an impact player. According to Badrinath, such a situation seems unlikely, and Dhoni is expected to feature in all matches this season as he appears fit and eager to play. He also expressed excitement about CSK’s clash with Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 5 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, adding that CSK has the potential to outperform RCB despite recent results.