NEW DELHI: Will MS Dhoni return for another season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), or is the former India captain close to calling time on his career? The questions around his future continue as fans wait to know whether he will play in IPL 2027.
Dhoni has now offered a hint about his plans. The 45-year-old said he would first check his fitness before deciding whether he could play another season.
He missed the entire IPL 2026 season due to fitness issues, mainly related to his calf.
Asked about his plans to play another IPL season, Dhoni responded with humour while making it clear that his fitness would be the deciding factor.
"Doc, I will have to go through the test. You will have to give me the report, and then before December, I will have to see, you know, how strong I am to maybe play one more season," Dhoni said.
He then joked about the responsibility of keeping him fit for another season.
"And if I am not, then, you know, you will have to make sure that you do everything right with me and make sure that this old vintage vehicle is running well on the road. So all the pressure is on them," he added.
Dhoni's comments indicate that he could decide on his IPL future before December. However, he has not confirmed whether he will return to the field for IPL 2027.
Dhoni's role in Chennai Super Kings' batting line-up has gradually reduced over the past few years. He has mostly batted in the final overs, looking to score quick runs and give fans a glimpse of his trademark power-hitting.
Even with a smaller role, Dhoni remains one of the leading run-scorers in IPL history. He has scored 5,439 runs in 278 matches at an average of 38.30. His record includes 24 half-centuries in 242 innings.
His success as a captain has been equally impressive. Dhoni led CSK to five IPL titles and also guided the franchise to two Champions League T20 titles.
CSK have struggled to achieve the same success since Ruturaj Gaikwad took over as captain in 2024.
The team finished at the bottom of the table in IPL 2025 before managing an eighth-place finish in IPL 2026. CSK last won the IPL title in 2023, when Dhoni was leading the side.
Dhoni has now offered a hint about his plans. The 45-year-old said he would first check his fitness before deciding whether he could play another season.
He missed the entire IPL 2026 season due to fitness issues, mainly related to his calf.
Dhoni to assess fitness before December
Asked about his plans to play another IPL season, Dhoni responded with humour while making it clear that his fitness would be the deciding factor.
"Doc, I will have to go through the test. You will have to give me the report, and then before December, I will have to see, you know, how strong I am to maybe play one more season," Dhoni said.
He then joked about the responsibility of keeping him fit for another season.
"And if I am not, then, you know, you will have to make sure that you do everything right with me and make sure that this old vintage vehicle is running well on the road. So all the pressure is on them," he added.
Dhoni's comments indicate that he could decide on his IPL future before December. However, he has not confirmed whether he will return to the field for IPL 2027.
Dhoni's role in CSK has changed
Dhoni's role in Chennai Super Kings' batting line-up has gradually reduced over the past few years. He has mostly batted in the final overs, looking to score quick runs and give fans a glimpse of his trademark power-hitting.
Even with a smaller role, Dhoni remains one of the leading run-scorers in IPL history. He has scored 5,439 runs in 278 matches at an average of 38.30. His record includes 24 half-centuries in 242 innings.
His success as a captain has been equally impressive. Dhoni led CSK to five IPL titles and also guided the franchise to two Champions League T20 titles.
CSK struggle to match Dhoni's success
CSK have struggled to achieve the same success since Ruturaj Gaikwad took over as captain in 2024.
The team finished at the bottom of the table in IPL 2025 before managing an eighth-place finish in IPL 2026. CSK last won the IPL title in 2023, when Dhoni was leading the side.