Regardless of any trade developments, former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath is adamant that MS Dhoni will remain in the starting lineup and not be deployed as an impact substitute. Sanju Samson may be moved to the five-time champions before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, according to reports.
The exorbitant price tags of CSK all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran are reportedly influencing negotiations for Samson, who captained the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 2025 Indian Premier League.
“There is no doubt that MS Dhoni will not play as an impact player. MS Dhoni won’t perform as an impact player, in my opinion. He will play as a keeper if he does. He might only bat in the last two overs because he is an impact player. On Star Sports, Badrinath stated, “We don’t know if he comes out to bat in that case.”
Dhoni’s primary motivation for playing is his necessity to be at the Chepauk.
Given my knowledge of CSK and Dhoni, I don’t believe that will occur. Although he is uncertain as captain, he will be present as a wicketkeeper even if he does not play the entire season. On the pitch, though, he will undoubtedly be a keeper. “I’ll be on the pitch to play,” he stated. Having someone like Sanju Samson take wickets while Dhoni is off the pitch is not going to happen. After making this choice, he would consult with Sanju Samson,” he continued.
Badrinath added that Dhoni still has a big say in the team’s on-field choices even if Ruturaj Gaikwad is technically in charge of CSK. CSK is anticipated to bounce back after a dismal IPL 2025 season in which they finished last in the standings. The Chennai-based team will try to put together a competitive and well-balanced team in order to recover in the 2026 Indian Premier League with the proposed trades and the impending mini-auction.
According to my understanding, MS Dhoni won’t have any impact as a player. He will either play or declare, “I’m done.” Take a look at these images; this is MS Dhoni, his value, the minor tweaks he makes, and some of his interactions with the bowlers. Despite being the captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad still has some influence on the game. His significance lies there,” Badrinath remarked.
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