Overview:
Under the new retention rules, CSK were able to retain MS Dhoni as an uncapped player for 4 crore ahead of IPL 2025. Dhoni took over as the team’s captain during the season after regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was sidelined with an elbow injury.
Mohammad Kaif has expressed his belief that the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) could be MS Dhoni‘s final season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He suggested that the legendary wicketkeeper-batter might even decide to retire before the season concludes.
The former cricketer pointed out that Dhoni no longer participates in any cricket other than the IPL. He highlighted that playing in such a high-profile tournament without sufficient match practice can be challenging for any player.
Kaif suggested that Dhoni might retire soon if CSK managed to secure a deal for wicketkeeper Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals (RR) before the IPL 2026 auction. The cricketer-turned-commentator shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel.
“I believe this will be his final season. If the Sanju Samson deal goes through, he might retire midway after playing seven or eight matches. But there’s no doubt, this will be his last. It’s 2026, and he doesn’t participate in any other cricket. It’s tough to only play the IPL year after year.”
Under the new retention rules, CSK were able to retain MS Dhoni as an uncapped player for 4 crore ahead of IPL 2025. Dhoni took over as the team’s captain during the season after regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was sidelined with an elbow injury.
Chennai Super Kings had a challenging season, finishing last in the points table for the first time in IPL history. They managed just four wins from 14 matches.
