MS Dhoni fans can finally stop waiting. The legendary wicketkeeper-batter will return for the 2026 Indian Premier League with Chennai Super Kings. The tournament begins next month. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been captain of the team for the last two seasons. Dhoni took command of the team again whenever injuries forced him to miss games.

At 44 years old Dhoni has not achieved significant batting success throughout recent years. He usually bats lower down the order and faces fewer deliveries. Many people believe that he understands his batting limits which leads him to avoid taking too much responsibility because it would disrupt the team's balance. CSK management still supports him while they search for methods to persuade him to continue playing instead of retiring.

CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed to NDTV that the former India captain will play in the upcoming IPL season.

The CSK supporters received confirmation which thrilled them. An unnamed CSK official told Press Trust of India that Dhoni may not play every match. His presence in the dugout throughout the tournament matters more to fans than the actual games he plays.

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The IPL future of the player has remained uncertain throughout the past few seasons. Dhoni has never announced his intention to retire from the league. His brand value remains intact because he receives a grand welcome from fans at both Chennai and other IPL locations.

Dhoni expressed his desire to avoid joining the commentary panel which many retired cricketers have chosen during a recent YouTube podcast. The statement he made during that time showed that he intended to continue participating in the IPL.

“Commentary is very difficult. I feel there is a very fine line between describing the game and in that process getting into a zone where you start criticising individuals who are playing the game. It's a very thin line. Often, you don't even feel that what you are doing is may be borderline wrong. You would always like to be on the other side where you are describing the game. If you feel something is wrong you say it out.”