IPL 2026 likely to be MS Dhoni's retirement year? CSK's tactics during IPL trade window and IPL 2026 auction give strong hints

When will MS Dhoni retire from the Indian Premier League (IPL)? It has been a long-standing question since the 2020 season when the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) finished at the bottom of the table. Back then, Dhoni said 'Definitely not!' and led CSK to their fourth title in the 2021 season.

Momentarily, the retirement rumours died off but a disappointing IPL 2022 for CSK once again saw the speculations rising from the ashes. Dhoni, though, was calm as usual and led CSK to their fifth title in IPL 2023. That year did really seem like it would be his final year in the IPL but once again, the man from Jharkhand decided to keep going.

IPL 2024 and IPL 2025 was the first time ever that CSK didn't make it to the playoffs in successive seasons. Clearly, a change in mindset was overdue and that has been seen during their strategies from 2025 onward. The IPL 2025 mega auction wasn't great but their mid-season signings were all youth oriented with the likes of Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis and Ayush Mhatre all impressing instantly. 

CSK's strategies at IPL 2026 Auction have been a continuation of their youth-centric tactics. Meanwhile, they also got in Sanju Samson with a historic trade to ensure that the Super Kings have a brand to succeed Dhoni when he calls it a day. If that move raised minor speculations, CSK's signings of Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for a combined value of Rs 28.40 crore are firming up the hint wagon. They are now the joint-most expensive uncapped players in IPL history.

In Veer, CSK have a potential replacement for Ravindra Jadeja while Akeal Hosein is likely to fill in for the Saurashtra all-rounder in the bowling department. These were logical moves but Sharma's inclusion is interesting. He is a prodigy, no doubt about that, but CSK going all-out for the wicket-keeper batter with Patel and Samson already in their mix suggests that Dhoni has finally made up his mind. 

There isn't any official confirmation yet - with Dhoni you are unlikely to get one in advance - but CSK now have Samson, Patel and Sharma as superb wicket-keeper batting options of various ranges. Samson is established, Patel is promising and already has multiple T20 centuries in less than 40 balls and Sharma is a proper prodigy who is destined to shine.

As such, Dhoni can now retire anytime he wants to, because Samson can then lead the side even if current captain Ruturaj Gaikwad doesn't have a winning run at the helm. Ideally, the 44-year-old would want to leave on a high after seeing CSK lift their sixth IPL title, which would also place them above Mumbai Indians' five titles.

However, fairytales in sport aren't a guarantee. Knowing Dhoni, he wouldn't be desperate for limelight either when it comes to his exit. In terms of replacing him, CSK are now perfectly ready and set to move on to a new chapter.