Will MS Dhoni retire before IPL 2026?

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, have received a major boost ahead of the 19th edition of the tournament. Former captain and franchise legend MS Dhoni is set to extend his stint with the team for at least one more season.

CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan stated, “No, he is not retiring for this (2026) IPL.” When asked about Dhoni’s eventual retirement plans, he added, “I will ask him and get back to you.”

Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, remains the oldest player in the IPL at 44. In the previous season, he returned to lead CSK after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s brief captaincy, but the team struggled, finishing 10th with only four wins from 14 matches. Dhoni scored 196 runs in 14 games at an average of 24.50, with a strike rate of 135.17—a noticeable dip from his explosive 220.55 the year before.

Off the field, Dhoni has achieved another milestone by completing drone pilot training at Garuda Aerospace, a DGCA-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO) in Chennai. As the company’s brand ambassador, Dhoni successfully finished the intensive course, which combined theoretical lessons with hands-on simulator and drone flying sessions.