Guess who’s back hitting balls in the nets? MS Dhoni started his net practice sessions in Ranchi already! IPL 2026 doesn’t begin for nearly two months still. But Thala never takes preparation lightly.
Jharkhand State Cricket Association shared a video that went completely viral today. The clip shows MS Dhoni padding up and grabbing his bat confidently. He was chatting with Saurabh Tiwary while getting ready to face some deliveries.
JSCA’s Instagram post read “Look who is back. Pride of JSCA: Mahendra Singh Dhoni.” That caption hit differently for CSK fans waiting desperately for the season. Dhoni remains Ranchi’s biggest sporting icon without any doubt.
CSK’s Title Hunt After Terrible Season
Chennai Super Kings had a nightmare run in IPL 2025 honestly. They finished dead last with only 4 wins from 14 matches! That’s not what anyone expects from a five-time champion team.
MS Dhoni himself struggled badly with the bat last season. Just 196 runs across 13 innings tells the whole story clearly. His average dropped to 24.50 with a strike rate of 135.17. Even his best score reached only 30 runs not out.
Ruturaj Gaikwad leads CSK now as captain for IPL 2026. The 44-year-old Dhoni stays on as their marquee retained player. Together they’re chasing that record sixth IPL trophy this year.
New Faces and Big Auction Buys
CSK grabbed Sanju Samson from the Rajasthan Royals through a trade deal. His arrival raises questions about MS Dhoni’s keeping role going forward. Will Thala focus purely on batting and mentoring now?
The franchise went crazy at the auction buying uncapped talents. Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma both cost Rs 14.20 crores each. That’s a record price for players without international caps ever.
Young guns like Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, and Urvil Patel showed promise last season. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been smashing runs in domestic cricket recently too. His red-hot form gives CSK serious hope entering the tournament.
MS Dhoni’s net practice starting this early shows his hunger hasn’t died. Those 5,439 IPL runs want company from more big knocks!
