CSK hopeful of Dhoni return in IPL 2027
On Walajah Road in Chennai, the excitement for MS Dhoni's upcoming debut on May 18 in the penultimate match of the IPL 2026 season between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians had reached fever pitch. It all ended in anti-climax - not only did he miss that final home game of the season, he also did not feature against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad a few days later.
Dhoni missed the season due to problems with his calf and hamstring early on, as well as a thumb injury later. For the first time in 19 years, he didn't play in the IPL. His IPL future is unavoidably in doubt due to his aging body (he turns 45 in July) and the tournament's increasing physical demands. Has he finished playing in the IPL yet?
Since the May 18 game was CSK's last home game of the season, there was a lot of hype around it. Speculation about a possible farewell only intensified in light of his earlier statement that he would end his IPL career in Chennai, especially given that the likelihood of him returning next season is becoming increasingly remote.
Certainly, the CSK franchise doesn't think so. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told Cricbuzz, "My understanding is that he will come back next season." "We have not spoken to him about this, but we hope he will come back. Additionally, we hope he fulfills his promise to CSK fans to play his final IPL game in Chennai."
Dhoni was the topic of discussion in the middle of this season. Their final home match was originally scheduled for May 21 against Gujarat Titans in Chennai. However, due to local elections in Ahmedabad, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) changed the locations of the GT-CSK games. CSK were scheduled to travel to Ahmedabad on April 26, so GT's Chennai match was moved up. Although CSK insiders would not openly admit it, Dhoni's thumb injury and the new venue both affected some calculations.
Dhoni had largely delegated decision-making to captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and coach Stephen Fleming throughout the season and leading up to it. Dhoni was otherwise extremely involved in CSK matters. He consciously chose not to interfere. Additionally, it is understood that he informed a few individuals that the side was performing well even without him. He was especially pleased that Jamie Overton was playing the final role that he probably would have played himself.
Coach Fleming's future has not been decided by CSK management. More specifically, Rahul Dravid, the man who is linked to the franchise, has not been contacted in any way. "We have not received a call regarding any cricket-related issues. "We will review at some point," Viswanathan stated, emphatically stating that Dravid had not been contacted. The management, of course, is conscious of the clamour among fans and on social media for the head coach to be replaced.
But somewhere in the CSK camp there is a perception that the decision should come voluntarily from Fleming himself. The New Zealander, who has been in charge of the team since Season 2, ought to listen to his conscience. He has coached CSK to 10 playoff appearances and five championships, but for the last three seasons, they have not advanced past the league stage. Since 2022, MI (0.681) and CSK (0.775), both five-time champions, have had the worst win/loss ratios in the league.
Up until a few years ago, Fleming was paid approximately USD 700,000 per season in the IPL. Also serving as head coach of the Texas Super Kings in MLC and the Joburg Super Kings in SA20, Fleming is understood to earn close to USD 1 million from the CSK management.
Given the short turnaround time, a decision regarding his future is unlikely anytime soon because the MLC begins on June 18. The CSK management will almost certainly gain Dhoni's trust before making any decisions, though further discussions may take place in the future. Dhoni will undoubtedly continue to play a significant role in the CSK setup regardless of his status, and he is also likely to have a significant say in any decision regarding Fleming.
