Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO Kasi Viswanathan has made a shocking revelation. IPL superstar MS Dhoni is not retiring anytime soon. He will be seen on the field in IPL 2026 as well.
Retirement rumors have been swirling for weeks, but now it’s clear that Thala Dhoni will remain with CSK.
The CSK CEO told Cricbuzz, “MS has told us that he will be available for the next season.”
Dhoni has led CSK since 2008. The team disappointed this season, finishing last in the points table. Dhoni took over as captain when Ruturaj Gaikwad was injured, but the team managed only four wins. Still, Dhoni’s decision is a major strength for the team.
Dhoni’s long journey with CSK
Dhoni’s IPL journey has been remarkable. If he plays in 2026, it will be his 17th season with CSK. This is the 19th IPL season.
He played 248 matches, scored 4865 runs, and led the team to five championships in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023.
Dhoni is currently actively involved in team planning. The retention deadline is November 15th.
Dhoni will meet with CEO Kasi, captain Ruturaj, and coach Stephen Fleming on November 10th and 11th. The auction will take place in mid-December.
Dhoni said at a private event in Chennai, “I still have four to five months to think.” He also confirmed that Ruturaj will remain the captain for the next season.
CSK is focusing on rebuilding. There are plans to release underperformers. Deepak Hooda scored only 31 runs in five innings.
He was dropped from the playing eleven after Rahul Tripathi scored 55 runs. Devon Conway scored 156 runs in six innings, but it fell short of expectations.
Vijay Shankar’s batting was decent, but his bowling was poor, so we intend to release him as well. Releasing him will free up the budget and allow us to bring in new players at the auction. Dhoni’s presence will double the team’s enthusiasm.
