‘Impact Player’, Mentor Key …! What will be MS Dhoni’s role in CSK team? Has Sanju Samson’s entry changed the equation?

• Last season of Mahi?
• What is Dhoni’s role in the team after Sanju Samson?
• Jadeja’s statement again shed light

MS Dhoni CSK Role in IPL 2026 : Mahi is known in the Indian cricket world by various names like ‘Thala’, ‘Captain Cool’, ‘Mastermind’, ‘Mahi’. Now M.S. At the age of 44, Dhoni is ready to showcase his skills once again. IPL (Indian Premier League) starts on March 28. Dhoni’s team, Chennai Super Kings will play their opening match against Rajasthan Royals on March 30.

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Last season of Mahi?

There is a lot of talk about whether this is Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s last IPL season. But these discussions should be seen only as an argument. Because even if the name Dhoni is basically a symbol of ‘surprise’, it will not be an exaggeration. So far there are many matches where he has won the team with his wit and his play. Be it chopper short or standing behind the stumps keeping wickets. Mahi has spread her magic everywhere. So if he sees himself playing for a few more seasons in the future, it won’t be a surprise.

Master of the craft! #WhistlePodu #Yellowlove pic.twitter.com/7iGWGra2v1

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 13, 2026

What is Dhoni’s role after Samson?

Dhoni’s fans will want him to play and keep playing big. But now the equations in the team are going to change? But one big question remains unanswered after all this: Now that Sanju Samson has joined the Chennai team. He himself is a wicket keeper. So what will happen next? This is a big question. Moreover, Urveel Patel is available as another wicket-keeping option in the team. So, which number will ‘Thala’ enter the field to bat? This has to be seen.

‘Brand Dhoni’

One of the major reasons behind the huge public support for the Chennai team is ‘Brand Dhoni’ himself. The moment he steps onto the field, the entire stadium erupts in excitement. This moment cannot be compared to any other moment. Even though Dhoni has not come out to bat in the top order in the last few seasons, when he does come to the crease to bat. So no matter how many balls he bowls or how many runs he makes in the entire match, only his entry sees a significant increase in the ‘live streaming’ viewership.

Jadeja’s statement

During the 2023 season, Ravindra Jadeja stated that whenever he comes into the top order to bat for CSK, the fans pray for him to be dismissed early; So that they can see ‘Mahi Bhai’ (Dhoni) batting. This clearly shows that the fans want Dhoni to come and play at the top of the batting order.

Many veteran cricketers have echoed these sentiments expressed by fans; Recently, AB de Villiers raised questions about Dhoni’s role in the team. De Villiers made it clear that if Dhoni is coming down the batting order and is not even captaining the team now, then he feels he is retaining his place in the team for the wrong reasons. So now in all this it will be important to see in which position Mahi comes to bat and what exactly his role is going to be in the team.

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