MS Dhoni didn’t play a single game for CSK in the IPL 2026 season after being ruled out for the first two weeks of the season due to a calf injury. Though CSK fans and critics still hoped for his appearances in the latter half of the tournament, his lingering injury kept him out of the Playing XI. There were rumors that during the CSK’s last home game in Chepauk against SRH, Dhoni might come out nonchalantly with his willow, but Ruturaj Gaikwad, during the toss, declared Dhoni had been suffering from ‘Fresh Injuries’ and thus missing out the game.
According to reports made by RevSportz Global, MS Dhoni would not be travelling with the team to Gujarat for their last must-win game of the season against the Gujarat Titans. To the doubts about whether Thala would continue playing the 2027 IPL season, CSK management believes that Mahi would return next season too and would still be in CSK’s plans.
“Breaking! MS Dhoni is not travelling to Ahmedabad for the Chennai Super Kings' final IPL 2026 game against the Gujarat Titans on Thursday. Whether he will continue as a player in 2027 is undecided, but the CSK management hopes that Dhoni will be back for one final home game next year,” posted RevSportz Global on X.
CSK head coach provides clarity on Dhoni’s availability next season
After CSK’s final home game loss against SRH, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming went vocal about MS Dhoni’s absence from the team and how his non-playing role from the dugout has been equally important for the franchise and players. “MS has been around a lot this year, which has been really important for the team, for a lot of the young players, and for continuity. So, he’s been a big part of it. He hasn’t played, but he’s still had a big influence on the team," Fleming said during the post-match press conference.
The 44-year-old CSK wicket-keeper batter, not playing a single match, has indeed taken a toll on lots of fans to the point where lots of scrutiny has been done on his continuing to play in IPL 2027.
Addressing this, Fleming said, “There are a lot of good things we’ve done. We’ve introduced some new players who will hopefully be generation players for CSK. But I know we’re judged on results, and that’s fair. So, yep, that’s a management call, not mine."
Even former CSK legend Suresh Raina and Indian Veteran Sunil Gavaskar said that Dhoni has to return next year to get a good farewell back in his home ground, Chepauk.
