Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad shared an update on the future of former captain MS Dhoni in the Indian Premier League. The five-time champions were knocked out of the season after suffering an 89-run loss to the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Thursday, May 21. This is the third consecutive season where the Stephen Fleming-guided side has failed to secure a top four spot. Their final chance to keep the hopes alive was during the last-league stage match against the IPL 2022 winners, which they lost due to a blowout loss.

Apart from a below-par performance throughout the season, the Yellow Army was in headlines around speculations of their former skipper MS Dhoni’s appearance in the season. Dhoni was ruled out right before the beginning of the season, and didn’t play a single game throughout. There were rumours that he would play his last T20 game in Chepauk as the side hosted the SurRisers Hyderabad on May 18, but the 44-year-old remained out of the lineup even during the highly-anticipated game.

As doubts loom over his participation in the next season, skipper Gaikwad shared an update. Following the loss to GT, he was asked whether or not Dhoni will appear in IPL 2027, to which he said, “You will get to know it next year itself.” The opener-batter added, “Even I will get to know it next year itself.”

Kris Srikkanth slams CSK management for misleading fans

As the Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2026 campaign came to an end following a disappointing season, former India star Kris Srikkanth slammed the team management for misleading the fans regarding MS Dhoni’s appearance. The former India skipper accused the franchise, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and coach Stephen Fleming of ‘deceiving' fans over Dhoni’s fitness throughout the IPL.

"Before the season started, they said he has got a leg injury and that they are hoping to have him soon," the former Chief Selector said on his YouTube channel. "Fleming also sang the same song, Ruturaj Gaikwad also sang the same: 'He might be ready for the next match'. And then before the match, CSK will have a video of Dhoni training to show the fans and hint he is fit and he might play."

"Then they said, 'no, no. He is still recovering from the injury'. And then they said he got injured in the thigh," Srikkanth added. "Stop this deception. You should make it clear. If he is not going to play the entire season, fair enough. Fans would have been mentally prepared had you made that clear."

Notably, the Super Kings are set to finish in the bottom four with just 12 points from 14 games.