Dhoni Expected to Play All Matches in IPL 2026, Final Role to Be Decided by Team Management
CHENNAI — Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan said veteran wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni is expected to feature in all matches during the upcoming Indian Premier League season, though the team management will make the final decision on his exact role.
The 19th edition of the IPL is scheduled to begin on March 28, with franchises already holding training camps to prepare for the tournament. Players who recently competed in the T20 World Cup are expected to join their respective teams soon.
With Dhoni set to appear for Chennai Super Kings again in IPL 2026, there had been speculation about whether the former India captain would play the full schedule given his age. Viswanathan dismissed those concerns.
“He will play all the matches, according to me,” Viswanathan said.
Asked about Dhoni’s role in the squad, particularly with another wicketkeeper-batter, Sanju Samson, now part of the team, Viswanathan said the decision would be taken by the coaching and cricketing staff.
“That I cannot say. That is a cricketing decision which will be taken by the cricketing staff. Not by the administrative staff. So they will decide whether he is going to play as a batsman or as a wicketkeeper-batter, or as an impact player,” he said.
The IPL schedule is expected to be announced soon, with organizers factoring in the electoral process taking place in India. Viswanathan said Chennai Super Kings expect to play their home matches at their usual venue.
“We are supposed to play only in Tamil Nadu only. So we are waiting for the schedule to be announced by the BCCI,” he said.
Viswanathan also expressed pride in the performances of Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, both CSK players who played key roles in India’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign.
“We are very happy that India has won the World Cup, that too they’ve won it back-to-back. We are delighted because two of the CSK players, Sanju and Shivam Dube, have performed extremely well. It gives us a lot of confidence in the team doing well for CSK here also,” he said.
Providing an update on the team’s preparations, Viswanathan said training had been progressing smoothly.
“Practice is going on well, no problems so far,” he said. (Source: IANS)
