What Is the Age of MS Dhoni? Will He Play IPL 2026? As we approach the IPL 2026 mini-auction, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and, in general, cricket fans have begun to wonder whether ‘Captain Cool’ MS Dhoni will feature in one more IPL season, or will he finally call it a day on his illustrious IPL career?
While the franchise and its fans would love to see their demi-god ‘Thala’ Dhoni don the CSK jersey for IPL 2026, others, including some experts and former cricketers, have raised the question of how late is too late to retire, even for a marquee player like MS Dhoni.
What is the age of MS Dhoni?
MS Dhoni turned 44 on July 7, 2025, and was the oldest player in IPL 2025. He will be closing in on the age of 45 by the IPL 2026.
In IPL 2025, Dhoni and CSK had a forgettable season. CSK finished last in the points table, managing just four wins in 14 matches under Ruturaj Gaikwad and Dhoni. Gaikwad led the side in the first five games but missed the rest of the tournament due to an injury. Dhoni attained the captaincy charge for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season but couldn’t swing the team’s fortunes, as the five-time champions ended up with a wooden spoon, and their fans saw the rivals RCB lift their maiden trophy.
Dhoni, who had had a fantastic IPL 2024 season in the finisher’s role, flopped with the bat in IPL 2025, scoring 196 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24 and a lowly strike rate of 135. He hit only a dozen sixes in 13 innings.
Will MS Dhoni play in IPL 2026?
According to a report in RevSportz, the CSK management “expect MS Dhoni to play at least for one more year.” The report added that Dhoni’s possibility of playing in IPL 2026 is boosted by N. Srinivasan’s return to CSK as the chairman and to the board of directors of Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited (CSKCL), the company that owns and runs their IPL team.
At the company’s AGM on September 27, Srinivasan and his daughter Rupa Gurunath will be confirmed into the board of directors, with the 80-year-old once again becoming the final-word boss.
At the end of the IPL 2025 season, Dhoni had hinted that he will take a decision on his future in the IPL near to the mini-auction, which is likely to be conducted in December, and about a few weeks prior to that, all franchises will have to reveal their retained and released players lists.
“It depends. Again, I would say the same thing: I have four-five months to decide, there’s no hurry to decide what needs to be done,” MS Dhoni had said after CSK’s last match in IPL 2025.
“I’m not saying I’m done, I’m not saying I’m coming back. As I said, I have the luxury of time,” he had cheekily added.
What is the salary of MS Dhoni in IPL?
Dhoni was retained as an “uncapped player” ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction for INR 4 crore, courtesy of the BCCI bringing back a rule that was quashed off.
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