MS Dhoni has once again left fans wondering about his IPL future. After CSK’s thrilling win against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Dhoni spoke about whether he will continue playing in the next season — and maybe even in IPL 2026.
The 43-year-old legend, who will turn 44 in July, admitted he is in the “last phase” of his career but made it clear that no decision has been made about retirement or playing IPL 2026.
“I only play for two months in a year. After this IPL ends, I’ll need to work hard for 6 to 8 months to see if my body can handle the pressure again,” Dhoni said, showing that age and fitness are big factors in his decision.
This season, MS Dhoni hasn’t batted much and has mostly come in at the end to finish games. Against KKR, he came in during the 13th over and stayed till the end, hitting the winning six off Andre Russell in vintage Dhoni style.
However, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming admitted that Dhoni’s knees are troubling him, which is why he doesn’t bat for long anymore.
While CSK is out of the race for the playoffs this year, they are using these last few matches to try out young players and prepare for the future. In the match against KKR, two young players, Dewald Brevis and debutant Urvil Patel, shone brightly. Urvil smashed 31 off just 11 balls, and Brevis hit a quickfire fifty off 22 balls.
Dhoni said this was the perfect time to test youngsters. “You can watch them in practice or nets, but real pressure comes only in actual matches.
We want to see how they handle the pressure, how smart they are while playing. It’s not always about being technically perfect — it’s about understanding the game,” he explained.
As fans continue to chant “Thala” wherever he goes, Dhoni’s love for the game and CSK is still strong. But whether IPL 2025 will be his final season or not, he hasn’t decided yet.
For now, Dhoni’s fans will have to wait and hope that their captain continues to lead for one more season.
