MS Dhoni's last IPL season? Ex-cricketer makes big prediction

NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes the upcoming variation of the Indian Premier League could beryllium the "last time" fans spot MS Dhoni playing for Chennai Super Kings.As the IPL 2026 play approaches, discussions astir Dhoni’s status person erstwhile again gathered momentum.

Speculation intensified aft CSK traded Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals, a determination that galore judge could let the seasoned to further trim his on-field relation portion continuing to mentor the team."CSK is incomplete without MS Dhoni. This play mightiness beryllium the past clip we spot him successful the yellowish jersey and it’s pugnacious to ideate CSK and the IPL without him," Irfan said connected JioHotstar’s ‘Game Plan’."As soon arsenic the IPL comes around, we commencement seeing Mahendra Singh Dhoni again, which means helium is afloat prepared for it, and helium is looking precise acceptable arsenic well," helium added.

The 44-year-old joined the CSK campy successful Chennai earlier this period and has been grooming with the squad led by skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad.Pathan said Dhoni’s relation could progressively absorption connected guiding the squad and helping make the adjacent procreation of leaders wrong the side."This season, Dhoni volition play an important relation successful bringing everyone together. I’m not definite however galore games helium volition play. But his beingness successful the dressing country volition assistance a lot.

"Sanju volition payment due to the fact that helium volition beryllium portion of the enactment radical arsenic well. Ruturaj Gaikwad is the leader. But arsenic a group, 2 oregon 3 guys are being groomed for the future. That is wherever MS Dhoni comes in. I anticipation helium makes a difference."Questions astir his fitness, batting position, and whether helium volition play each games volition inactive travel up. The CSK squad absorption volition instrumentality it measurement by step. They volition decidedly look to springiness him a cleanable farewell by lifting their sixth IPL trophy.”Dhoni has featured successful 278 IPL matches crossed 2 franchises — CSK and Rising Pune Supergiant during the 2016 and 2017 seasons erstwhile CSK were suspended — scoring 5,439 runs successful the tournament.Last season, helium was mostly seen successful little cameo roles during the decease overs, scoring 196 runs from 13 innings.CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan, however, has stated that the seasoned volition beryllium disposable for the afloat play and is expected to play “all matches” successful the 2026 campaign.Pathan besides feels the clip has travel for younger players to gradually instrumentality connected much work wrong the franchise."We person seen him instrumentality work for a fig of years now, but I deliberation this is the clip for the baton to walk connected to the likes of Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is simply a young skipper arsenic well."CSK's ideology has changed. It volition beryllium cardinal for the youngsters to larn from MS Dhoni's experience, and for him to instrumentality the players up alongside him.

It is simply a precise breathtaking squad connected paper. In presumption of six-hitting quality and intent, I americium truly looking guardant to seeing the fearlessness from this young CSK side."The commercialized betwixt CSK and Rajasthan Royals means Ravindra Jadeja has returned to his erstwhile franchise, portion Rajasthan person besides parted ways with Jos Buttler.Former India cricketer and manager Sanjay Bangar believes Rajasthan’s younger players indispensable present measurement up pursuing the departure of 2 experienced batters."First they fto spell of Jos Buttler, and present determination is nary Sanju Samson arsenic well. The young batsmen successful the squad volition person to instrumentality the lead," Bangar said."It volition beryllium a bully commencement for Riyan Parag, playing 3 games astatine home. He volition get location enactment successful Guwahati arsenic a section boy, coming present for the archetypal clip arsenic a full-time captain. He volition decidedly privation to execute good successful beforehand of his location fans, but it won't beryllium casual for the Rajasthan Royals."Former India opener Abhinav Mukund besides raised concerns astir Sunrisers Hyderabad’s aboriginal fixtures and the availability of their skipper Pat Cummins."SRH person immoderate hard games coming up astatine the start, and you don't cognize whether Pat Cummins is afloat disposable oregon not. They haven't made immoderate connection yet, truthful we'll person to hold for that due to the fact that helium has been a lynchpin for them," helium said.SRH volition statesman their run against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru connected March 28 earlier travelling to look Kolkata Knight Riders connected April 2 and returning location to instrumentality connected Lucknow Super Giants connected April 5.