Dhoni will play the 19th edition of IPL at the age of 44.
Legendary MS Dhoni landed in Chennai on Saturday (February 28) to join Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) pre-season camp for the 2026 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL).
Dhoni received a warm reception, with several fans gathering at the airport to catch a glimpse of the iconic cricketer.
Unlike last year, there was no message on the former CSK captain’s T-shirt upon his arrival. In a video shared by CSK on social media, he was seen sporting a maroon round-neck T-shirt and blue jeans as he walked out of Chennai airport.
Last year, Dhoni’s arrival to Chennai had sparked speculation about his IPL future since he donned a T-shirt with a cryptic message, “One last time.”
Although Dhoni did not comment on the message, many fans believed the IPL 2025 season would be his final appearance. However, the 44-year-old is set to feature in the cash-rich league for another season.
During the IPL 2025, Dhoni didn’t only play all 14 league matches but also returned to the leadership role after regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out midway through the tournament due to injury.
However, he failed to turn CSK’s fortunes around as the five-time champions became the first team to be knocked out of the playoffs race and finished last in the points table for the first time ever.
It remains to be seen if Dhoni, who will turn 45 in July this year, will commit to playing all matches for CSK, considering the franchise traded wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.