MS Dhoni Will Return in IPL 2026, Says Atul Wassan: “Dhoni is CSK, and CSK is Dhoni”
Despite Chennai Super Kings’ worst-ever finish in IPL 2025, former India cricketer and commentator Atul Wassan believes MS Dhoni will be back in the iconic yellow jersey in IPL 2026. Speaking on the latest episode of Bails and Banter Show on OTTPlay, Wassan expressed unwavering support for the 43-year-old, calling him inseparable from the CSK legacy.
“Dhoni is CSK, and CSK is Dhoni. Whether CSK performs well or not, he’s still recovering value for the franchise. Dhoni knows his best days are behind him, but he continues to play and face criticism,” Wassan said.
Although Dhoni has remained silent about his future, Wassan believes the former Indian captain’s deep connection to the CSK franchise will drive him to return next season as well.
“It shows how much he cares for CSK. Otherwise, why would someone who has achieved everything subject himself to this? I truly believe he’ll be back next year, even if not at 100%,” he added.
“Captaincy is Overrated” – Wassan Defends Dhoni
The 2025 IPL season marked a historic low for CSK as they finished last on the points table for the first time ever. However, Wassan refused to place blame on Dhoni, stating that a captain can only be as effective as the team he leads.
“A captain is as good as the team he gets. If you give Clive Lloyd the Zimbabwe team, he won’t be successful either. Dhoni’s captaincy should be judged on the kind of team he had. When he had a strong squad, we all saw the results. In my opinion, captaincy is sometimes overrated.”
While fans and analysts continue to debate Dhoni’s next move, one thing remains clear — his legacy at CSK is unmatched, and the door to yet another comeback in IPL 2026 is far from closed.
