MS Dhoni’s future with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) remains the biggest talking point in Indian cricket. The legendary former India captain, who bid farewell to international cricket in 2020, continues to be the heartbeat of the IPL. Last season, Dhoni stepped in to lead CSK once again after Ruturaj Gaikwad was sidelined due to injury. But with Father Time catching up, fans are left wondering — how much longer can Thala keep going?
The 44-year-old icon has yet to give a definitive answer about his IPL 2026 plans. True to his style, Dhoni has kept everyone guessing, dropping just enough hints to fuel speculation. At a recent event, when asked directly about returning next season, Dhoni admitted he still has “plenty of time” to decide but revealed that recurring knee pain has been a real challenge.
“I don’t know whether I’ll play or not. I have time to decide… until December. I’ll take another couple of months before making my decision,” MS Dhoni said with his trademark calmness.
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Moments later, a passionate voice from the audience shouted, “You have to play, sir!” — to which Dhoni, never one to miss a witty comeback, replied, “Arre, ghutne me jo dard hota hai uska take care kaun karega? (The pain I have in my knees, who will take care of that?).” The room erupted in laughter.
Fans shouting u have to play sir
MS Dhoni : Who will take care of knee pain and smile 😃 pic.twitter.com/v1Msz9yval
— Yash MSdian ™️ 🦁 (@itzyash07) August 10, 2025
MS Dhoni’s knee troubles have been no secret. After leading CSK to the IPL 2023 title, he underwent surgery, having pushed through the pain all season before finally going under the knife to ensure he was ready for IPL 2024.
On the field, CSK have had mixed fortunes in recent years — winning two of the last five seasons but also missing the playoffs in three. Dhoni himself acknowledged the dip.
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“Yes, the last couple of years haven’t been great for us. We weren’t up to the mark. What matters is learning from it — understanding what went wrong. That was our biggest question last year as well,” he reflected.
For now, the Dhoni saga continues — and as always, he’s in no rush to give away the ending.
