Dhoni’s IPL 2026 Role Sparks Fierce Debate Among CSK Legends

A video of MS Dhoni launching CSK pacer Mukesh Choudhary for a towering six during a training session has taken the internet by storm ahead of IPL 2026. The clip instantly reignited the perennial question — what exactly should Dhoni’s role be for Chennai Super Kings this season?

Former Stars Clash Over Impact Player Debate

Former CSK batsman Subramaniam Badrinath was quick to raise doubts, questioning whether the 44-year-old could hold up across a full IPL campaign given his reduced batting position and ongoing knee concerns. Ravichandran Ashwin, however, had a sharper take — Dhoni should either play as a regular member of the XI or not feature at all, firmly dismissing the idea of deploying him solely as an Impact Player.

Dhoni himself has not shied away from the conversation. At CSK’s ROAR 2026 fan event in Chennai, he addressed retirement talk with characteristic candour and humour. Acknowledging that his fitness is “on the way down, not the way up,” he nonetheless drew thunderous cheers from the Chepauk crowd when he added, with a grin, that he could still try.

CSK’s Quiet Succession Planning

Behind the scenes, CSK’s transfer window activity tells its own story. The franchise signed T20 World Cup hero Sanju Samson and invested heavily in two uncapped wicketkeeper-batters, signalling a clear succession strategy. Dhoni has already begun mentoring young keepers Urvil Patel and Kartik Sharma, passing on his expertise in his own quiet way. With five IPL titles and a legacy etched into the tournament’s history, Dhoni’s presence — however it is managed — remains the heartbeat of Chennai Super Kings.