New Delhi, March 24: Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that the 2026 IPL season could be the last for MS Dhoni as a player. Chopra stated that Sanju Samson has emerged as Dhoni’s successor in the Chennai team. He suggested that if Dhoni plays this season only as an impact player, it may be time for him to consider retirement.
In a conversation with JioCinema, Chopra remarked, “You don’t manage a team from the dugout; this isn’t football. In cricket, you need to be on the field, and MS Dhoni’s greatest strength is his superior understanding of the game. This clarity of thought and determination makes him who he is. I genuinely believe this could be his final season.”
He further added, “Now he has a successor. Sanju Samson will eventually don the gloves, and that could happen this season. Of course, Dhoni’s fitness and knee issues are factors, but he cannot just be an impact player. If he is playing in that role, I think it’s time for him to retire.”
When asked if MS Dhoni is still the unofficial captain of the Chennai Super Kings, Chopra provided an analogy: “If you want your child to start walking, you must hold their hand to teach them. However, if you want them to run, you have to let them go. If you keep holding on, they will never learn to run. From Dhoni’s perspective, if someone has been chosen as the next captain, he must step back, and I believe he has already done that.”
The Chennai Super Kings will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign on March 30 against the Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. The team’s performance in IPL 2025 was disappointing, with only 4 wins out of 14 matches, while they faced defeat in 10 games.
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