If former Chennai Super Kings star Suresh Raina is to be believed, fans may already have seen the last of MS Dhoni as a player on the cricket field. The legendary captain has been battling fitness concerns during the ongoing IPL season and is yet to feature in a single match for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026.
At the start of the tournament, reports suggested Dhoni had suffered a calf strain during a training camp, forcing him to miss the opening few matches. He later reportedly picked up a thumb injury as well, ruling him out of CSK’s previous home fixture.
However, during CSK’s clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk on Monday, Dhoni was present at the stadium, much to the delight of fans. Following the match, he also took a lap around the ground, receiving a huge ovation from the crowd.
Speaking on Star Sports, Raina revealed that he had urged the five-time IPL-winning captain to return for another season. Dhoni, though, stopped short of making any promises and admitted that his body was no longer feeling at its best.
“I told him, ‘You have given IPL 2026 a missed call. It won’t count. You have to come back next year.’ He said, ‘Nahi yaar, body thoda waisa hai’ (My body is not feeling the same). I told him, ‘We are not believing anything. You have to play next year.’ It’s his personal call, but I think he is positive. The team is also coming together well again,” Raina said.
While age and injuries may have started taking a toll on Dhoni, the former India captain has not completely shut the door on another comeback.
“Fans also want you to come back,” Raina added. “He said, ‘Let me see.’ If he says ‘let me see,’ there is always a chance that he will work hard and play again.”
