Big Twist Ahead of IPL 2026: MS Dhoni May Not Play All Games for CSK

As the Indian Premier League caravan gets ready for the 2026 season, the question about MS Dhoni's future comes up again: will the legendary former captain play in all of Chennai Super Kings' games this year? A top source from the CSK franchise confirmed that Dhoni, who will turn 45 later this year, will be available for the next IPL season. But now that CSK has Sanju Samson, a prize transfer, it's unlikely that the legendary former India captain will play in all of the league games. A high-ranking CSK source told PTI on the condition of anonymity, "We can confirm this much: he is coming to Chennai and has confirmed his availability for the season."

The source went on to say, "We can't say right now if he will play all the games."

With the Impact Player rule in place, Dhoni the batter hasn't been needed very much in the last two editions. His role has mostly been situational, with most of his appearances being late in the order.

CSK has three wicketkeeper-batters on their team this season. Samson will definitely wear the gloves in games where Dhoni isn't playing. Along with rookie Kartik Sharma, who was signed for Rs 14.20 crore, there is also Urvil Patel in the squad. He will be trained as a finisher with Shivam Dube.

Dhoni has dealt with problems with his knee and back over the years, and at this point in his career, the physical demands of keeping wickets with little time between games can be hard on him.

What is clear, though, is that Dhoni will play most of CSK's home games in Chennai. Just walking into the Chepauk arena sends the crowd into a frenzy, showing how close he is to the team and its loyal fans.