IPL 2026: MS Dhoni to step down as captain, may play as keeper-batter

MS Dhoni, a legend of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has stated that he will play as a specialist keeper-batter in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) rather than as the team’s captain. He added that Ruturaj Gaikwad will be back as captain for the next season instead. When Gaikwad suffered an elbow fracture early in the 2025 Indian Premier League, MS Dhoni took over as captain.

CSK struggled with Gaikwad’s absence, making the 2025 season a challenging one for the team. Speaking about the previous season, MS Dhoni acknowledged the difficulties the squad had and said CSK would concentrate on improving their batting order in preparation for the upcoming campaign, which they appear to have already done.

“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 [as captain]. He got injured. But he will be coming back. So, we are quite sorted now. I won’t say we (CSK) slacked off (in IPL 2025). But there were certain holes that we needed to plug in. A small auction is coming in December. Some loopholes are there, and we will try to plug those in,” said Dhoni during a private function in Chennai as quoted by India Today.

We’re hoping to perform at our peak next season: MS Dhoni

In CSK’s encounter against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur, Gaikwad made his final competitive appearance. He had previously agreed to a contract with Yorkshire, a county team in England, but he later backed out, claiming personal reasons. However, the West Zone side for the forthcoming Duleep Trophy, which starts later this month, has selected the potential opener for a comeback to action.

MS Dhoni experienced cricket player, meanwhile, said that the five-time champions have fallen far short of expectations in the last two seasons of the lucrative competition. In order to win a record-breaking sixth title, he underlined that the squad must recognise and resolve its grey spots before the 2026 season.

“Yes, the last couple of years have not been good for us. We have not been up to the mark. But what is important is for you to see the learnings. Yes, you had a bad season. But what went wrong? And that was the question for us last year also. We were like, ‘okay, there are some shortcomings’. But first we needed to exactly figure out what were the shortcomings and then look at solutions,” Dhoni noted.

The Ranchi native expressed gratitude to the devoted CSK supporters for their unflinching support during difficult times and pledged that the squad would perform much better in the next season.

“I feel more often than not we have been able to figure out what exactly went wrong. In sports, you know you can have a very good time and at the same time there will be periods when you won’t be performing well. In CSK, more often than not, we are on the higher side. So, we do talk about the processes. But at the same time we do want the result to come to our side. Last year it (result) wasn’t there. But looking ahead, we will try to sort out most of the things and we will hopefully be at our best,” he added.