Dhoni Begins Training for IPL 2026 with CSK

Ranchi, India - Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the former captain of the Chennai Super Kings, has begun training sessions ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, signaling his continued involvement with the franchise despite a challenging previous year.

Videos of the 44-year-old wicketkeeper-batter padding up for net practice in Ranchi surfaced on social media this week, shared by the Jharkhand State Cricket Association. In one clip, Dhoni chats with JSCA official and former India batter Saurabh Tiwary before heading to the nets. The association captioned the post, "Look who is back. Pride of JSCA Mahendra Singh Dhoni," highlighting his local roots and enduring appeal. Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020 but remains a key figure for CSK, appeared fit and focused, dispelling doubts about his participation following a subpar IPL 2025.

Former CSK allrounder Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, expressed optimism about Dhoni's role this season. Ashwin suggested that Dhoni, who batted low in the order last year and scored 196 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 135.17, might promote himself higher up, potentially to No. 3 during the powerplay....