Will MS Dhoni play IPL 2026? CSK CEO gives the final verdict News24 –

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is India’s greatest cricketing legend is confirmed to feature in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). This has been stated by the CEO K.S. Viswanathan on Friday. Dhoni has been with CSK since its inception in 2008 and in 2025 season he even returned to captaincy mid-way when Ruturaj Gaikwad got injured and was ruled out.

“He is likely to play, that is the current status. We have a feeling that he will play in this upcoming IPL,” Viswanathan told IANS on Friday.

But the 2025 campaign was turned out to be a very disappointing one for the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings as the team only managed to secure 4 wins out of 14 matches and finished at the bottom of the table.

Except for the 2016 and 2017 season when CSK was banned, Dhoni has always been a part of the CSK family. His comeback in IPL 2026 will mark his 17th season with CSK and 19th in the league overall.

In the 248 matches featuring for Chennai, Dhoni has scored 4,865 runs and lead the team towards five IPL titles – in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023. In total, he has accumulated 5,439 runs in 278 matches and apart from this he has 158 catches and 47 stumpings.