IPL 2026: CSK confident of MS Dhoni's availability

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO Kasi Viswanathan has expressed strong confidence that veteran wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni will feature in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The 44-year-old icon has been synonymous with the CSK franchise since the tournament’s launch in 2008, steering the team to remarkable success over the years.

Under Dhoni’s captaincy, CSK have captured five IPL titles — in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023 — along with two Champions League T20 trophies in 2010 and 2014. Should he take the field again in 2026, it will mark his 17th year with the Super Kings and his 19th in the IPL overall. The only seasons he spent away were during CSK’s suspension, when he represented the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant.

In a recent interaction, Viswanathan said, “We are very confident that he (Mahi) will be available and play for us.”

This assurance comes after a challenging 2025 IPL season for Chennai, where they finished at the bottom of the table with just four wins in 14 matches. Dhoni returned as captain midway through the season after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury and even became the oldest player to win a Player of the Match award in IPL history for his heroics against the Lucknow Super Giants.

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Despite CSK’s struggles, Dhoni’s decision to continue brings renewed optimism and stability to the side. His fitness and workload management will, however, remain key factors as he extends his playing career.

Having retired from international cricket in 2020, Dhoni continues to defy age and expectations in the IPL. Over 278 matches, he has scored 5,439 runs at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45, including 24 fifties. In the 2025 season alone, he contributed 161 runs and hit 13 sixes, reaffirming his value as a finisher.

Dhoni also remains the most successful captain in IPL history, with 136 victories from 235 matches, alongside 97 losses and two no-results — a record that cements his legacy as one of the league’s greatest leaders.