- By Gurmeet Batra
- Tue, 17 Mar 2026 01:30 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Chennai Super Kings IPL 2026: Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni’s place in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting line-up has come under scrutiny as the former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star AB de Villiers sparked a debate, questioning the 44-year-old’s role in the five-time champion team.
After CSK’s iconic 2023 IPL victory, the talk about MS Dhoni’s future with the team became a backdrop of every season, with many cricket fans starting a debate about whether wicketkeeper-batter risks overstaying his welcome at a franchise he built.
Dhoni has been an integral part of the Indian Premier League since its inception in 2008. For almost two decades, he has cemented his name in the list of finest match-winners the tournament has witnessed and a player who can snatch the victory out of the jaws of defeat.
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As the star player ages, his role in the team has diminished every season. Dhoni, who led CSK to five trophy wins, handed the reins to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the 2024 season, and now, as a potential captaincy and wicketkeeping option, Sanju Samson has joined the squad ahead of IPL 2026.
Meanwhile, the introduction of the impact substitute rule subtracted his stay at the crease, allowing him to walk out to play a handful of deliveries. But at the same time, this also brought scrutiny surrounding his place in the eleven.
De Villiers suggested that the iconic batter must adapt his batting position to justify his place in the team. The former RCB star also cautioned that Dhoni's presence shouldn't become a liability for CSK's performance.
"I don't see a role for MS batting at 8 or 9 and not really doing enough. If he's going to play the role of batting at 8 or 9 and not really captaining, then I just feel he's almost making up a spot and is almost there for the wrong reasons. And that's not the position that he deserves to be in,” de Villiers said on JioHotstar.
De Villiers recognised Dhoni's monumental brand value, shaped by years of fan loyalty, but highlighted that selection should be based on merit rather than sentiment.
"He's got to bat himself up to, at the latest, number 6. I would even like to see him at 5 or 4 sometimes," he said.
The star wicketkeeper-batter will be back on the field when CSK start their IPL 2026 campaign against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on March 30.