Former Mumbai Indians player and South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock has shared his views on MS Dhoni’s future in the Indian Premier League, stating he would be surprised to see the Chennai Super Kings captain playing in IPL 2026 when he will be nearly 45 years old.
The speculation around Dhoni’s IPL future has intensified following CSK’s elimination from the playoff race after their eighth defeat of the season, including their fifth consecutive loss at home.
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At the toss, Dhoni avoided answering a direct question about his future plans ahead of the Punjab Kings match.
“I mean, he has got nothing more to achieve, has he? He has won as much as anyone else. It’s going to be down to what he wants. Because of his legacy and because of the impact he has had on that franchise, they have kind of given him free reign as to be the one who makes the call,” Pollock said in a video for Cricbuzz.
“Would that change? Would the owners go and have a word with him? We don’t know. We have tried to predict this for so long, it is becoming like a stuck record, where we cannot get to the bottom of it. I would be very surprised if he is there next year,” he added.
Following CSK’s four-wicket loss to Punjab Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Dhoni was seen in conversation with team CEO Kasi Vishwanathan.
The discussion around Dhoni’s future became particularly relevant after IPL 2024, which marked the end of a three-year cycle.
The IPL introduced a provision that classified players without international cricket experience in the preceding five years as ‘uncapped,’ making them eligible for retention at a lower cost.
Since Dhoni’s last international appearance was during the 2019 ODI World Cup, he qualified under this rule and was retained by CSK for Rs 4 crore.
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What should be MS Dhoni’s next move after IPL 2024?
With Ruturaj Gaikwad now leading the team and younger players taking more prominent roles, both Dhoni and the CSK management face a crucial decision about his future with the franchise.
CSK is anticipated to undergo a significant rebuild, raising questions about how Dhoni fits into their future plans.
