Overview
- At a public event on August 10, Dhoni quipped that no one will take care of his knee pain when a fan urged him to play IPL 2026
- He said he remains undecided about returning and will make a final call by December
- Dhoni has managed chronic knee pain since undergoing post-2023 season surgery in Mumbai, prompting him to bat lower in recent IPL editions
- He stepped in as CSK captain mid-2025 after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s elbow fracture but was unable to prevent the team from finishing last in the points table
- Dhoni and Gaikwad have held meetings with Chennai Super Kings officials in Chennai to plan squad strategy for the 2026 season