Former batsman of India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Cheteshwar Pujara He has urged MS Dhoni to move up the order and make an even bigger impact on the game during the upcoming 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
For the last few campaigns, Dhoni has been moving up to number eight to give more opportunities to the younger players as the former captain is getting older.
Despite his age, Dhoni He remains one of the biggest threats for the opposition whenever they face CSK. The 44-year-old played at a strike rate of 220.54 in 2024, which dropped to 135.17 last year. However, the former India captain is still one of the best wicketkeepers in the game.
“I don't see any point in MS Dhoni batting at No. 8 or 9 because he has the ability to single-handedly turn matches around, which no other batsman in the CSK team can do. If he bats only for five or ten balls, imagine what Mahi Bhai can do with 25 or 30 balls,” Pujara was quoted as saying on Geostar.
Dhoni will return to the CSK team before the 2026 IPL season. However, there are question marks over how many matches the veteran wicketkeeper will play this time. The five-time champion has also done business sanju samson Dhoni was forced to sit on the sidelines as a possible wicketkeeping option for Rajasthan Royals ahead of the mini auction.
Pujara has also praised the dressing room environment within the CSK setup. Having a first-hand experience of how things work within the camp, the former India batsman said that once a player joins the Chennai organisation, they stay there for a very long time.
“I have been in the CSK setup. In that environment, the players are very comfortable; it is like a family. When you are in that setup, there is clarity about what is expected of you as a player. Loyalty also comes into the picture because if you look at the history, most of the CSK players, after becoming a part of that setup, stay for a long time. There is a change in the team now, so the younger players are being given a little more priority,” Pujara said. Said.
CSK begin their 2026 IPL campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.
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