IPL 2026: Will MS Dhoni play till the age of 60? ‘Thala’s answer to actor Sivakarthikeyan’s demand went viral

News India Live, Digital Desk:Just before the start of IPL 2026, there was an outpouring of emotions at Chennai Super Kings (CSK)’s home ground Chepauk. The occasion was ‘ROAR 2026’ fan event, where veteran actor Sivakarthikeyan asked MS Dhoni on stage the question which is in the hearts of crores of cricket fans. While praising Dhoni’s fitness, Sivakarthikeyan jokingly told him that he can play till the age of 60. Dhoni’s answer to this not only won the hearts of the fans, but once again fueled the speculations about his retirement. ‘That’ conversation between Sivakarthikeyan and Dhoni. Sivakarthikeyan, who was hosting the event, took a dig at Dhoni on his retirement planning and said: Sivakarthikeyan: “Sir, fans want you to never retire. You can play even till the age of 60. MS Dhoni (smiling): “It is very difficult.” Sivakarthikeyan: “But looking at your fitness, it seems easy.” MS Dhoni: “It is really challenging to maintain fitness now. It (the graph) is going down now, not up… but I can try.” As soon as Dhoni said ‘I Can Try’, the whole stadium echoed with slogans of Dhoni. For the fans, this is not just a joke but a ray of hope that ‘Thala’ can be seen in the yellow jersey for a few more seasons. Fans became emotional: Video of female fan went viral. Many emotional moments were also seen during this event. When Dhoni came on stage, a female fan started crying bitterly as soon as she saw him. This video is becoming increasingly viral on social media, which shows that Dhoni has become not just a cricketer but an emotion in Chennai. 44-year-old Dhoni is preparing to play his 19th IPL season and the craze for him in Chepauk is the same today as it was in the early days of his career. Gathering of stars at the event: Veterans inducted into the Hall of Fame. ‘ROAR 2026’ was not limited to Dhoni only. Former CSK stalwarts like Suresh Raina, Matthew Hayden and Dwayne Bravo also attended the event. Matthew Hayden and Suresh Raina were inducted into CSK’s ‘Hall of Fame’. Also, AR Rahman’s stellar performance made the evening even more enjoyable. CSK’s first match in IPL 2026 is against Rajasthan Royals on March 30, where under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad and the mentorship of Dhoni, the team is once again considered a contender for the title.