Mahendra Singh Dhoni is yet to make an appearance in IPL 2026, with his knee continuing to keep him sidelined and his outlook for the rest of the season still unclear. Even without him in the playing group, Chennai Super Kings matches have kept drawing massive crowds, and a familiar sight has been repeating at stadiums—supporters arriving in Dhoni’s signature No. 7 yellow jersey, eager for even the smallest chance to see the former captain in action. That long wait has, however, taken its toll on fans, as anticipation for his return keeps growing after each round of fixtures passes without him. Dhoni was initially expected to miss only the early part of the tournament, but the recovery process hit another roadblock when the knee reportedly flared up again during a training session. From that point onward, the debate around his comeback has intensified, with every CSK game triggering fresh speculation about whether he will finally be named in the XI. With his knee troubles looking recurring and age now increasingly part of the conversation, some supporters believe IPL 2026 may end up being Dhoni’s last season. The uncertainty has also led to talk that the CSK stalwart could choose to bring an end to his storied career after the campaign.
As the doubt surrounding Dhoni’s future continues, former Australia captain Michael Clarke has stepped forward with a forceful defence of the CSK icon. Clarke pushed back against the argument that Dhoni’s age should be the deciding factor, insisting that his impact stretches well beyond day-to-day performances. He also urged fans and critics to avoid rushing to conclusions about retirement. “MS Dhoni is CSK. If you go watch a CSK game, everyone has the No. 7 yellow jersey on. In terms of sponsors coming to the team, every sponsor would want MS Dhoni to be part of that team. He is that significant in India and CSK. Age should not matter, though. No one can convince me that there is a better keeper than MS Dhoni. He’s still the best wicketkeeper in T20s. He is also one of a kind. So people need to be careful in wishing him to retire,” Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.
Clarke then went even further in explaining why he believes Dhoni’s eventual exit from playing may not necessarily translate into an immediate new role within cricket. While Dhoni’s retirement could eventually end his association with the sport in a visible capacity, Clarke suggested it is unlikely the former CSK skipper would step into coaching, commentary, or a sustained mentorship role. In that context, Clarke appealed to supporters to value Dhoni’s presence in the IPL for as long as possible rather than pushing the idea of an early goodbye. “When he retires, we probably won’t see him involved in cricket. He certainly won’t commentate. I doubt he will stay on as a mentor with CSK. I can’t imagine him going into coaching. So I would urge people not to wish him to go out soon and try to keep him involved in the sport,” he added.
