For IPL 2026, MS Dhoni did not confirm anything after his last match as Chennai Super Kings captain against Gujarat Titans, which they won. However, they had a terrible season, losing a series of matches despite starting and ending IPL 2025 with victories.
The query “Will MS Dhoni play IPL 2026?” still lingers in the cricket fans across the country. The 44-year-old icon is struggling with knee pains and age, but waits for an announcement so his fans know whether they will see their beloved “Thala” in yellow again. He was able to discuss his future in cricket during a public engagement, while also not waiting until late 2023 to allow the final decision.
Will MS Dhoni Play In IPL 2026? Decision to be Made by December
Fans shouting u have to play sir
MS Dhoni : Who will take care of knee pain and smile 😃 pic.twitter.com/v1Msz9yval
— Yash MSdian ™️ 🦁 (@itzyash07) August 10, 2025
Ex-India skipper and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend MS Dhoni has yet to make his entry into IPL 2026 official. At a recent function, when questioned regarding his plans for next season, Dhoni replied forthrightly:
“I do not know whether I will play or not. I have time to make up my mind. I have time up to December. I will give some more months and then at last I will decide.”
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Battling Knee Pain: A Crucial Factor in Dhoni’s Decision
One of the biggest challenges for Dhoni ahead of IPL 2026 is his knee problem. The former captain has been seen managing pain in recent seasons. At the same event, when a fan urged him to play in IPL 2026, Dhoni light-heartedly replied:
“Hey, who will take care of the pain in the knee?”
His funny comment evoked chuckles from the crowd, and the video clip went viral on social media instantly. The core message still points to the fact that his body will be a deciding factor when it comes to his IPL career.
MS Dhoni’s Journey Post-International Retirement
Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020, but he remained active with the Chennai Super Kings franchise in the Indian Premier League. He has continued to play a vital role even as a non-captain in an IPL team as a mentor and leader to the team as a highly influential member.
In IPL 2025, he was retained as a capped player and then as an uncapped player. While there were always rumors every year of retirement, Dhoni consistently surprised fans with returns each year.
CSK’s Poor Performance in IPL 2025
The Chennai Super Kings had a pretty bad IPL 2025 season, finishing last on the points table with only 8 wins out of 14 matches. Ruturaj Gaikwad captained the side to begin the season, but he got injured during the season, and it was Dhoni’s second time in his career that he took the captaincy over again. Neither could Dhoni save the team.
But the season witnessed a few young players being recruited to join the team as substitutes. These new faces may help give CSK a fresh push in IPL 2026, irrespective of whether Dhoni chooses to play or not.
What’s Next for MS Dhoni in IPL 2026?
Questions remain regarding MS Dhoni’s status for IPL 2026. While his announcement continues to spark the imagination of cricket fans, it seems that fitness and performance will remain as important as ever before.
If MS Dhoni is to follow through with an anticipated announcement sometime in December 2025, the sporting world will certainly be watching. Whatever capacity Dhoni returns to cricket in, be it as a player, as a mentor, or even as a captain, it is clear that MS Dhoni is still at the forefront of the CSK franchise.
MS Dhoni IPL 2026 Hope Remains
Though nothing is certain at the moment, Dhoni hasn’t written off his chances of playing in IPL 2026 either. His fans, particularly the ones belonging to Chennai Super Kings, await the day when he puts on the yellow jersey again. Until that day comes, the countdown starts now.
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