Former Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman AB de Villiers made a comment about MS Dhoni ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. De Villiers said that if the experienced wicketkeeper continues to bat lower down the order without captaining, then he is making a place in the playing eleven for the wrong reasons.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are entering the upcoming season after a disappointing campaign. They finished 10th in the points table in 2025. The franchise has been exploring lower middle-order and wicketkeeping options, raising questions about whether the 44-year-old fits into their current plans.
It’s almost like creating a space – AB de Villiers on MS Dhoni
AB de Villiers said the Chennai-based franchise needs to look beyond MS Dhoni for consistent contributions on the field. He said the current setup requires strong collective team performances rather than relying on individual legacies to win tournaments.
“If he is going to play the batting role at No. 8 or No. 9, and not actually captain, then I think it is almost creating a niche and is almost there for the wrong reasons,” he told Star Sports.
“It’s not an individual who wins trophies, ultimately it becomes the team’s performance. I think Ruturaj and Sanju are the right players to replace MS.”
Since the 2023 season, Dhoni has faced more than 20 balls in an innings only once. He has batted at No. 8 or lower on 17 occasions.
I don’t see any strength in MS Dhoni’s batting… – Cheteshwar Pujara
Former India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara said that MS Dhoni should bat higher up the order to maximize his ability to control the pace of the innings. He said that although loyalty remains part of the team culture, there is a clear change underway with an increasing preference for younger players.
“I don’t see any point in MS Dhoni batting at No. 8 or 9 because he has the ability to single-handedly turn matches around, which no other batsman in the CSK team can do,” he said on Geostar. “If he plays only five or ten balls, imagine what Mahi Bhai can do if he plays 25 or 30 balls.”
“I have been in the CSK setup. In that environment, the players are very comfortable; it is like a family. When you are in that setup, there is clarity about what is expected of you as a player.”
“Loyalty also comes into the picture because most of the CSK players, if you look at the history, stay for a long time once they become a part of that setup. There is change in the team now, so younger players are being given a little more priority,” Pujara said.
Chennai Super Kings strengthens team with Sanju Samson trade
Chennai Super Kings secured Sanju Samson in an offseason trade. The five-time champions traded Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals (RR). The 31-year-old finished as India’s leading run-scorer during the T20 World Cup 2026 with over 320 runs in five matches.
The franchise also added Karthik Sharma in the recent auction. They signed Urvil Patel as an injury replacement during IPL 2025. These additions give the management many wicketkeeping options if they decide to move ahead with MS Dhoni behind the stumps.
The team will begin its IPL 2026 campaign against Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on March 30. They will be aiming to bounce back after missing the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. The team finished at the bottom of the table last year with just four wins in 14 matches.
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