As yet another season of the Indian Premier League descends upon us, the questions circling Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend M.S. Dhoni have received a fresh life.

Will this be Dhoni’s last IPL season? What will be his role in this new-look CSK side? Is it a possibility that he might end up not playing this campaign?

True to the way he has shielded himself from public scrutiny over the last two decades, Dhoni has revealed nothing about his future.

Just like every other season, Dhoni has turned up for the pre-tournament camp in Chennai and has looked his merry self in the visuals shared by CSK on social media.

It is near certain that Dhoni will bat, if at all, in the lower middle order. In the last season, the highest he had batted at was No. 5, and he even dropped down to No. 9 twice. From 13 innings, he managed just 196 runs at a middling strike rate of 135.17.

But, taking into account CSK’s team-building work heading into the new season, there is a real possibility that Dhoni’s presence with the bat will diminish even further.

Fresh recruit Sanju Samson is expected to open with Ayush Mhatre, while skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube will likely form the middle order.

It is widely predicted that big-money signings Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma will feature in the lineup, which would mean Dhoni could potentially be slotted in at No. 8.

However, this could significantly dent CSK’s bowling depth, as this combination would only allow three specialist bowlers in the starting XI, with the scope of adding another as an impact player.

Though it is unlikely to happen, CSK could probably use Dhoni as an impact player, utilising him purely as a wicketkeeper. Despite the decline in his batting abilities, his skillset behind the stumps has largely remained intact.

But, this would mean CSK would be splurging a crucial match tool just to accommodate what is, to be fair, an emotional choice. Over the course of a 14-game league season, this could prove to be a point of difference that might cost the side vital points and even a Playoffs spot.

The dilemma at hand for CSK is an uncommon one in the upper echelons of professional sports, let alone the IPL. It is unheard of for a team to sacrifice its own winning chances to placate the collective sentiment of its fanbase.

In Samson, CSK will have another star player with a pan-India appeal at its disposal. | Photo Credit: R. Ragu

Also, at the root of this reluctance of CSK to move on from Dhoni – or the other way round – is the element of brand value. Despite not being the side’s skipper anymore, the wicketkeeper-batter continues to be the face of the franchise – an icon that gravitates countless fans, from across the country, into rooting for the team.

But the introduction of Samson, who brings in his own pan-India appeal, should allow Dhoni to recede into the background.

With a young core in place and a ‘perfect’ replacement added to the fold, this could finally prove to be Dhoni’s ‘last dance’ in bright yellow, albeit in potentially a reduced role.

Published on Mar 24, 2026