Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad opened up about MS Dhoni’s future in the Indian Premier League (IPL) following his team’s exit from the ongoing season 19.
An 89-run loss to the Gujarat Titans knocked the Super Kings out of the IPL 2026 playoff race. During the post-match presentation, Gaikwad was asked about Dhoni’s participation in the league’s next season.
The uncertainty over MSD continues to become a huge concern after he missed out on the entire IPL 2026 edition. As the five-time IPL trophy-winning captain turns 45 by the next season, the questions rise about the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman’s physical fitness.
Meanwhile, Dhoni’s rumored rift with the Chennai-based franchise adds to speculations on his IPL retirement.
Gaikwad Not Sure About Dhoni’s Next Plans
After a heartbreaking end to CSK’s campaign in IPL 2026, Ruturaj Gaikwad was asked if fans can get to watch MS Dhoni play yet another season. Here is what the 29-year-old said during the post-match interview:
“No! You can never know anything about the next IPL season. Next year, you and I will get to know the answer to this question.
However, in this edition, it was unfortunate that we missed him. He is one such player who can shift the momentum in late overs and add fear to the opponent team. He changes the game as long as his presence is at the crease.
As of now, we are happy with the players we have in our squad,” Ruturaj answered.
So, it is understood that Dhoni hasn’t provided any clarity on his IPL future, leaving fans and the entire CSK management clueless.
Sunil Gavaskar Expected a Dhoni-style Answer From Ruturaj
Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar, who was present at the commentary box, expected Ruturaj Gaikwad to answer in MS Dhoni style.
Back in IPL 2020, MSD answered in his style, ‘Definitely Not’ when asked if he was playing his last season. Even fans hoped for a ‘Definitely Not’ answer from Ruturaj. Gavaskar was eager to listen to a similar kind of answer from Ruturaj.
“See! I expected to say, like Dhoni ‘Definitely not’ when asked about his retirement next IPL season,” Gavaskar said.
Why Dhoni Didn’t Play IPL 2026 Season?
After suffering a calf injury, MS Dhoni was ruled out for the first two weeks of IPL 2026. As per the reports, the legendary Indian cricketer was supposed to return either for the fifth or sixth match of his team this season.
However, Dhoni wasn’t part of CSK’s starting XI throughout the season despite attending the training sessions. As the tournament progressed, the confusion over MSD’s unavailability continued to increase.
The Super Kings hosted Sunrisers Hyderabad in its penultimate fixture at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Dhoni was spotted in the dressing room sporting the team’s jersey rather than playing the match.
The most shocking part was that Dhoni didn’t travel to Ahmedabad along with CSK’s squad for their last league stage match against the Gujarat Titans.
Notably, this was the first time in Dhoni’s IPL career that he missed out on an entire season, raising concerns about his silent exit with CSK.
Possible Reasons Behind Dhoni’s Rumored Rift With CSK
The reports about a rumored rift between MS Dhoni and the CSK franchise surfaced during the IPL 2026 season. Here are those potential reasons that outline why the blockbuster partnership between Dhoni and Super Kings might come to an abrupt end:
1. A Tough Start To The Season With Hattrick Defeats
Chennai Super Kings had a poor start to IPL 2026 by losing three games in a row. Although Ruturaj Gaikwad and his men bounced back with some notable wins but failed to capitalize on the momentum.
2. Dhoni Sidelined For Key Decisions
According to various reports, the CSK team management avoided consulting Dhoni before making any big decisions. For instance, the trade between Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson was reported to be made without the former skipper’s knowledge.
3. A Transition Towards a Younger Squad
As MS Dhoni batted at the lower order and failed to deliver some impactful performances last season, the franchise opted for a massive transition. This move ensured that younger players become the long-term brand value of CSK, much like Dhoni used to be since the inaugural season in 2008.
However, the plans backfired as the team had no life without MS Dhoni’s best finishing skills and agile wicketkeeping skills.
4. An End to IPL 2026 Playoff Hopes
Ever since Dhoni handed over CSK’s captaincy role to Gaikwad in IPL 2024, the team has failed to qualify for three consecutive playoffs.
In this season, the Super Kings suffered a hat-trick of losses in their last three games to Lucknow Super Giants (by 7 wickets), Sunrisers Hyderabad (by 5 wickets), and Gujarat Titans (by 89 runs). This ended the men-in-yellow’s hopes of securing 16 points and a top-four finish to gain entry into the playoffs.
