The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin soon. As the league’s popularity grows year by year, with new teams and international players joining, former cricketers and experts have begun speculating about players like MS Dhoni, who will turn 45 this year.
Dhoni is currently the oldest player in the IPL, having represented his team since 2008 and played a total of 278 IPL matches, holding the record for the most appearances in the tournament’s history. He has represented Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant (2016–2017), scoring over 5,000 runs as a wicketkeeper-batsman.
However, since his surgery in 2023, Dhoni’s performance has declined; he has mostly played as an impact player or batted at number 7 or 8, typically in the final overs. In the last season, he averaged around 25 runs at a sub-par strike rate of 135.7 across 14 games.
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The Role of MS Dhoni in Today’s IPL
Many Indian fans tune in to the IPL to watch players who have retired from international cricket, such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. With new franchises emerging and auction prices rising every year, the league has evolved significantly.
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra recently questioned whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) still requires Dhoni’s presence to maintain the league’s growth and popularity.
From 2023 to 2026: Will This Be MS Dhoni’s Last Season?
After CSK’s last title win, MS Dhoni said in the post-match presentation that he had “one more year of cricket left.” He later underwent knee surgery under sports medicine specialist Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala. When asked how long he planned to continue, Dhoni replied simply: at least another year.
As the 2026 season approaches, his longevity remains the sport’s biggest talking point. Chopra believes Dhoni’s self-awareness will dictate his exit. He told RevSportz: “Whenever Mahendra Singh Dhoni comes on the field, his reputation precedes him, and with that comes responsibility. He is playing because he loves the game. He has achieved everything there is to achieve. But the day he feels he is a liability if he can’t hit a six, drops catches, or misses stumpings he will leave on his own. He will say, ‘that’s it.’”
Does the IPL Still Need MS Dhoni?
Chopra raised the question: despite the league’s global popularity, is Dhoni’s presence still essential? He pointed out that the IPL has grown tremendously and does not depend solely on any single player. International interest in the league remains high, even as players leave other competitions, such as the PSL or ECB, to participate.
“With due respect to MS and others, the IPL has become incredibly big. A small child doesn’t learn to walk until you hold his finger. But holding his finger has helped him grow. Now he is running, and when he is running, he doesn’t need anyone to hold his finger. The ecosystem will not be significantly affected whether it is MS or someone else. The IPL can take care of itself,” Chopra said.
However, the decision of whether to play or not ultimately depends on MS Dhoni and the CSK team management. There is no doubt that his presence can influence any team’s performance, as we saw during the concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Dhoni was seen motivating the Indian team from the stands alongside last year’s World Cup-winning captain, Rohit Sharma, during the semi-final and final games against New Zealand and England.
No team would want to risk losing such a genius, who can even change the course of a match from the pavilion. Chennai Super Kings will play their first match of the season against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 in Guwahati.
Also Read: “Should not play”: CSK legend suggests MS Dhoni to skip IPL 2026