Will MS Dhoni Play For CSK In IPL 2026? Eyesight Ok, Fitness Concerns Loom

MS Dhoni has hinted at his future in the Indian Premier League (IPL) amid ongoing fitness issues. After a disappointing IPL 2025 season, where Chennai Super Kings (CSK) finished last, Dhoni's future remains uncertain due to his fitness concerns. Despite this, he has not confirmed whether he will continue playing.

At a recent event, Dhoni shared that while his doctor cleared his eyesight for the next five years of cricket, his body did not receive the same approval. "I just got a tick mark for the next five years I can play cricket. But the only catch is Doc only gave a clearance for eyesight. Body, He didn't gave a clearance for the body. But I cannot play cricket only with my eyes," he stated.

Dhoni's Fitness Concerns

MS Dhoni has been battling a knee injury for several years and is not fully fit yet. During the last season, concerns about his fitness were prevalent among CSK coaches and fans alike. Despite these challenges, Dhoni played all 14 matches in IPL 2025 and scored 196 runs.

MS Dhoni's return as captain came after Ruturaj Gaikwad's injury, but CSK still struggled to perform well. The team ended up at the bottom of the points table for the first time ever. However, Dhoni remains optimistic about CSK's future prospects.

CSK's Future Plans

"We are slightly worried about our batting order. But I think our batting order is quite sorted out now. Rutu (Gaikwad) will be coming back. He got injured. But he will be coming back. So, we are quite sorted now," Dhoni said regarding CSK's batting lineup.

The former India captain also mentioned an upcoming small auction in December as an opportunity to address some team weaknesses. "I won't say we (CSK) slacked off (in IPL 2025). But there were certain holes that we needed to plug in," he added.

Uncertain Future

Despite these comments, Dhoni has not provided any clarity on his future with CSK or in IPL overall. His statement leaves fans guessing about whether they will see him on the field again next season.

The CSK management may need to start planning for a future without Dhoni as their leader on the field due to his ongoing fitness struggles and age-related concerns.