MS Dhoni will play full IPL 2026 season, can't talk about his role: CSK CEO

IPL 2026: MS Dhoni, 44, will play the entirety of the upcoming season, Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan said on Wednesday, March 11. The upcoming edition of the IPL is likely to get underway on March 28.

MS Dhoni will play the full season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, and the coaching staff will take a call on his role, Chennai Super Kings Chief Executive Officer Kasi Viswanathan said on Wednesday, March 11. Dhoni began training for the new season in Chennai earlier this month, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad leading the preparations.

Speculation about MS Dhoni's future was rife after CSK traded Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals. Quite a few saw it as MS Dhoni's move to allow himself the chance not to play the full season and instead take up a reduced role with the five-time champions.

However, Dhoni arrived in Chennai in the first week of March and trained hard with the rest of his teammates. At 44, Dhoni looked fit and ready for the hard grind of a two-month-long season. Notably, Dhoni had begun preparing for the upcoming season as early as last month with light net sessions in Ranchi.

"He will play the matches, all matches," Kasi Viswanathan told reporters in Chennai.

When asked if the Super Kings will use MS Dhoni as an Impact Player, he added: "I can't say. That's a cricketing decision which will be taken by the cricketing staff, not by the administrative staff. They will decide whether he is going to play as a batter, or a wicketkeeper-batter or as an Impact Player."

Dhoni played the entirety of the last two seasons despite constant speculation around his future and a nagging knee injury, which he managed through the campaigns. In fact, in IPL 2025, Dhoni took over the captaincy midway through the tournament after an injury to Ruturaj Gaikwad.