MS Dhoni IPL 2026: Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has made a surprising prediction about MS Dhoni's IPL career. Dhoni will be available for all matches this season.

When will MS Dhoni retire?

IPL 2026 begins on March 28th, with the first match being played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad (RCB vs SRH). But as always, MS Dhoni has once again come into the spotlight before the season begins. Dhoni has joined CSK's training camp and is gearing up to play his 19th consecutive season of the Indian Premier League.

Ahead of the start of IPL 2026, former cricketer Irfan Pathan has made a bold prediction about MS Dhoni's career. Pathan says it's difficult to imagine the Chennai Super Kings team without Dhoni, but he believes 2026 will be "Thala's" last season.

Dhoni will retire

During a discussion on a JioHotstar show, Irfan Pathan said that CSK is incomplete without MS Dhoni, and that this might be the last season we see him in the yellow jersey. This could mean Dhoni's retirement after this season. Pathan added that it's difficult to imagine Chennai Super Kings and the IPL without Dhoni.

Pathan said that he will try to unite the Chennai team this season. According to the former India all-rounder, Dhoni's presence in the dressing room will be helpful in building a team for the future, and this time Sanju Samson is also part of the squad and will have a lot to learn from Dhoni. Pathan also said that Ruturaj Gaikwad is the captain and currently, the priority is to prepare 2-3 players for the future.

Will MS Dhoni not play the entire season?

There were question marks on whether MS Dhoni would play the entire IPL 2026 season, but Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan has clarified that Dhoni will be available for all the matches of the season.