Less than three months remain for IPL 2026 and MS Dhoni is aware of the need to get himself into peak fitness. At 44, it isn't an easy task for a player who quit international cricket back in 2020. Physical fitness has never been an issue for Dhoni but being an inactive professional cricketer for ten months in a year does take its toll, especially at his age.
While speculations continue over whether IPL 2026 will be his last season, Dhoni has started his preparations for the tournament in Ranchi. Recently, there have been videos floating around of CSK's 'Thala' roaming around Jharkhand's capital city in his favourite bikes with a kit bag on his back.
According to TOI Sports, officials from Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) have confirmed that Dhoni has begun his preparation for the upcoming IPL season. The Chennai Super Kings veteran reportedly began his preparations in October with huge priority given to his physical fitness and batting practice.
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Around 1.30 pm daily, Dhoni arrives at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi and gets involved in an hour of gym before hitting the nets for practice. The 44-year-old has been working hard on adding dimensions to his powerhitting and is also using match simulation to test himself as he gets ready for a potentially challenging IPL season.
With no Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, Dhoni remains the only experienced finisher in CSK's batting line-up. The former captain may be well past his prime but his guidance and calmness will be critical to the young guns like Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma with at least one of the two likely to bat in the lower middle order.
Dhoni is also having extensive sessions of wicket-keeping and this suggests that he might not start the tournament as the Impact Player. However, his recurring knee problems does mean that he will have to manage his body well. Dhoni leaves from the Ranchi stadium by 6 pm daily and has also incorporated an hour of intense swimming to aid his fitness regime.