Picture Credit : @ChennaiIPL/X
Five time IPL winners Chennai Super Kings have crashed out of the Tata IPL 2026 after losing heavily to Gujarat Titans by an embarassing 89 runs. The men in yellow had a miserable tournament/season rather winning six games and losing 8 out off 14 matches . It meant they were out of the play-offs race. It was first time that their iconic player Mahendra Singh Dhoni did not play a single match in the entire season.
MSD at age 44 and nearing 45 in July is not getting younger. And fitness issues are bound to arise when one is not playing regularly. That too the fast paced format like T20 is not easy. Staying fir is one thing and playing in the middle is a completely diffrent ball game all together. Even last year when he did play MSD came down the order played few overs towards the end and yes was sloppy behind the wickets too. Not the MSD one knew. The alarm bells were loud enough then itself . But how they were overlooked is unknown. And Yet CSK rooted for MSD at the auction getting him in the side somehow.
MSD once again featured in the CSK team for the 2026 season but did not play . The team played but the question was repeatedly asked will MSD play ? How fit is he? In match-after-match wherever CSK went this was the question posed. MSD the brand icon was larger than the team it appeared . It reminded me of the earlier days when Sachin Tendulkar’s 100 was seen more important than Team India winning the Tests series away or at home.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has nothing left in to prove anybody. He has won it all in his glittering career and has all trophies in his cupboard at home . He was the Captain cool and is one of India’s greatest captains . There is no slight doubt over this whatsover . MSD has his place etched in history of Indian cricket.
The question is therefore when he is not in his heydays and struggling as he did last year what’s the use of him playing all over again. It makes no sense at all. It is time to give the generation next the opportunity to excel. In Sanju Samson , Chennai Super Kings have found a perfect replacement for the great MSD. And Sanju after moving on from Rajasthan Royals has proven his class both behind and front of the stumps Hence it is time for CSK to look beyong MSD .. That’s the future.
Moreover, Former Kiwi Skipper Stephen Fleming has been the Head coach of the Men in yellow for a very long time . With CSK not living up to the expectations in the last few years. It would not not be wrong for CSK to look beyond Fleming and get MSD to fill in the void. MSD at the dug- out would be great boost for the players and young players would learn a lot with his presence. As i write there still talk of MSD in TataIPL 2027 . I find it truly absurd . This is certainly the not the way for the team CSK going forward.
The cricket crazy nation where the game is like a religion wants to remember MSD for his striking prowess and razor sharp fast reflexes behind the stumps and cool astute captaincy that has made him a legend. There is an adage – It is always better to leave then asked to asked to leave. The career of MSD needs a exit with grace not one in disgrace.
