The much-anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to kick off on March 28, with only the first 20 matches announced due to state elections. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will launch their campaign against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on March 30 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has shared his thoughts on the team, emphasizing that it won’t be the same without the iconic MS Dhoni. He believes this season could be the last time fans witness Dhoni donning the CSK jersey.
“CSK feels incomplete without MS Dhoni. This could very well be his final appearance in yellow, and it’s hard to envision the IPL or CSK without him. His leadership will be crucial in uniting the team this season. While I’m uncertain how many matches he’ll participate in, his presence in the locker room will be invaluable,” he stated.
Pathan also mentioned that Sanju Samson’s involvement would be advantageous for Chennai. He is optimistic that the franchise aims to send Dhoni off with a bang by securing their sixth title. “Sanju will thrive as he becomes part of the leadership team. Ruturaj Gaikwad leads, but they’re nurturing two or three others for future roles. This is where MS Dhoni plays a pivotal role. I hope he makes a significant impact. Discussions around his fitness and batting position will inevitably arise. The management will approach it step by step, but they’re undoubtedly aiming for a memorable farewell by lifting that sixth IPL trophy,” added Pathan.
IPL 2026, Chennai Super Kings: Complete Squad
Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Urvil Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar.
(With ANI Inputs)