The big question on everyone’s mind finally has an answer. Will MS Dhoni play IPL 2026 or not? CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan cleared the air during a recent interaction.
He was talking to a kid when the topic came up. One child asked directly about MS Dhoni retiring from cricket soon. Viswanathan said Dhoni won’t be retiring and will play next season.
What the CEO Said About MS Dhoni
Kasi Viswanathan spoke pretty clearly about MS Dhoni staying with the team. He told the kid that their favourite captain isn’t going anywhere. MS Dhoni will play for Chennai Super Kings in IPL next season definitely. “No, he is not retiring for this IPL,” he said.
This news comes after a terrible season for CSK in 2025. The team finished dead last with just four wins all season. That tenth-place finish was their worst performance in IPL history.
The 44-year-old still means everything to CSK. Ruturaj Gaikwad took over the captaincy from him. But Dhoni’s company in the team matters more than the captaincy.
Why Last Season Was So Bad
IPL 2025 turned into a nightmare nobody saw coming for Chennai. They won only four matches out of their entire schedule. Fans weren’t used to seeing CSK struggle like this before.
MS Dhoni himself didn’t have a great season with the bat. His scores weren’t what people expected from the legend. The whole team looked out of sync throughout the tournament.
Despite all this, the management believes in keeping MS Dhoni around. His experience and leadership still help the younger players grow.
Changes Coming for IPL 2026
The CSK CEO mentioned they’ll make changes before IPL starts. An auction is coming up where teams can buy new players. Viswanathan didn’t give specific details about their plans yet though.
MS Dhoni has won five IPL titles for CSK over the years. The last trophy came in 2023 under his captaincy. He’s been with the franchise since IPL began back in 2008.
Will MS Dhoni play IPL 2026 is no longer a question. The answer is yes, and fans can breathe easy now.
