New Delhi, March 24. Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), which begins on March 28, could be the last season for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)'s most experienced player, MS Dhoni, as Sanju Samson is ready to take over.
Chopra also said that the veteran should consider retirement if he continues only as an Impact Player for Chennai Super Kings this season.
“You can’t run a team from the dugout; it’s not football. In cricket, you need to be on the field, and MS Dhoni’s biggest asset is his ability to read the game better than anyone else. That clarity and conviction are what make him who he is. In any case, I feel this could be his last season," Chopra told Jio Hotstar.
"He now has a successor. Sanju Samson will eventually wear the gloves, and it could even happen during this season. Again, conditions apply regarding MS Dhoni's fitness and his knee. But he cannot be an Impact Player. If he is playing as an Impact Player, I think it's time for him to retire," he added.
When asked whether MS Dhoni is still the unofficial captain of Chennai Super Kings on the field, Akash Chopra said, “There’s a small analogy. If you want your baby to start walking, you need to hold their hand and teach them. But if you want them to run, you need to let go. If you keep holding on, they will never learn to run. From Dhoni's perspective, if someone has been appointed as the next Captain, then he has to take a backseat, and I think he already has.”
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni's role will be in focus when CSK start their campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.