Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has urged MS Dhoni to consider one more appearance for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2026, ahead of the franchise’s final home outing of the season at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The veteran believes Dhoni can honour the promise he has made to supporters by planning his last-ever match at Chepauk, and he even suggested that if the wicketkeeper-batter does not feature on Monday, it could signal a return in 2027 to fulfil that commitment.
Dhoni has been sidelined throughout this IPL campaign with a calf injury. However, with CSK scheduled to host Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Monday, the conversation around a potential farewell cameo has reignited, drawing renewed attention from fans who associate Dhoni’s career with the Chepauk crowd.
Speaking ahead of the match, Harbhajan reflected on Dhoni’s deep-rooted bond with Chennai and said the moment feels especially meaningful because of the uncertainty around the former India captain’s playing future. He also pointed to Dhoni’s earlier remarks about wanting his final match at the Chennai venue, framing Monday’s game as the clearest possible opportunity to make that wish come true.
“Look, he had said earlier that he would like to play his final match against Chennai, at Chennai’s ground. And now that time has come — this is the last match in Chennai. It’s possible that we may see Thala playing on Monday for the last time, and maybe this Chennai crowd will also be watching him play for the final time. And if he doesn’t play, then it means he’ll come back again next year. Then he’ll say, ‘Next year, you’ll see me playing my last match.’ You never know with him, but hopefully he will play,” Harbhajan said on JioHotstar.
Harbhajan then added a playful but sincere message aimed directly at his former teammate, pushing him to take the field one final time for the fans. “Brother, just play tomorrow, Dhoni, please play. Otherwise I’ll come to your Chennai, and if needed, I’ll drag you onto the ground myself and ask you to play,” he said.
The comments have only heightened the anticipation around an already eagerly awaited night at Chepauk, where supporters are expected to pack the stands in large numbers. Many are hoping to see “Thala” in CSK colours again, even if it turns out to be a final appearance.
Dhoni himself had spoken about the possibility of concluding his T20 career in Chennai during CSK’s IPL title celebrations in 2021. At that time, he indicated that he would like his last T20 outing to take place at Chepauk, though he admitted he could not be sure when that moment would arrive.
“I have always planned my cricket. The last game I played was in Ranchi. The last home game in ODI was at my hometown in Ranchi. So, hopefully, my last T20 will be in Chennai. Whether it’s next year or in five years’ time, we don’t really know,” Dhoni had said.
