Former India captain MS Dhoni was recently seen training at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium, indicating his preparation for the upcoming Indian Premier League season. The update was shared by Chennai Super Kings on their official social media platforms, which instantly created excitement among the fans ahead of the tournament.
Now 44, Dhoni is one of the most iconic figures in IPL history. In 278 IPL matches, the wicketkeeper-batsman has scored 5,439 runs at an impressive average of 38.30 and strike rate of 137.46. Although his role has evolved over the years, his influence within the CSK setup has not diminished.
The Ranchi-born player was once again given the responsibility of captaincy after regular captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out due to injury last season. Despite limited match experience, Dhoni's tactical acumen and calm leadership were evident as he guided the team through a challenging campaign. His last appearance in competitive cricket came on 25 May during the 2025 season of the IPL.
Watch MS Dhoni's net session here:
Dhoni played 13 innings in the 2025 season, scoring 196 runs at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 135.17. Having converted to a lower-order finisher, he continues to serve as a reliable power-hitting option, providing invaluable experience behind the stumps and in the field. It is expected that his game awareness and decision-making abilities will play an important advisory role for Gaikwad in resuming captaincy.
The five-time champions made headlines with a high-profile trade during the pre-season trade window sanju samsonHe was brought from Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. The franchise also invested heavily in youth, and bought uncapped Indian talents Prashant Veer and Karthik Sharma for ₹14.20 crore, underscoring their intention to rebuild aggressively.
After finishing bottom of the table last season with just four wins from ten matches, CSK will be keen to make a strong comeback. With Dhoni's presence still anchoring the team, the franchise will hope that his experience and leadership can help restore their trademark consistency in the upcoming campaign.
Chennai Super Kings team for IPL 2026:
Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dubey, Noor Ahmed, Khalil Ahmed, MS Dhoni (wk), Anshul Kamboj, Dewald Brewis, Gurjapaneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Mukesh, Choudhary, Ramakrishna, Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel (wk), Zachary Foulkes, Rahul Chahar, Matt Henry, Sarfaraz Khan, Aman Khan, Matthew Short, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer. Akil Hossein
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