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'I can try...': Dhoni continues to play down retirement talk
23 Mar 2026

MS Dhoni, the heartbeat of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has once again sparked a wave of excitement among fans by hinting that he could continue playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The light-hearted moment between Dhoni and actor Sivakarthikeyan during CSK's ROAR 2026 event on March 22 at MA Chidambaram Stadium went viral on social media.

The exchange was filled with laughter and cheers from the crowd.

Dhoni's playful banter
Banter

During the event, Sivakarthikeyan urged Dhoni to ignore retirement talks and keep wearing the yellow jersey.

The former CSK skipper responded with an amusing remark about how difficult it is to stay fit at his age.

He said it would be difficult, but he could try, leaving fans hopeful for his continued presence in future IPL seasons.

Starting from his "Definitely not" remark in 2020, Dhoni has smartly blunted the retirement talk every year.

Is this finally his last dance?

Dhoni's IPL journey
Career highlights

Dhoni has played a pivotal role in CSK's success. Under his leadership, CSK won five IPL and two CLT20 titles.

The most successful IPL skipper, Dhoni, has scored 4,865 runs from 248 matches for CSK (SR: 139.11).

However, ahead of the 2024 season, he stepped down as captain to make way for Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Despite a brief return last year due to an injury to Gaikwad, the team is now moving toward a new leadership era.

Transition phase for Dhoni
Role evolution

Dhoni's on-field responsibilities have been gradually reducing over the past few seasons.

He has mostly played the role of a finisher, coming in late to score runs in the death overs.

The impact player rule has further reduced his participation, making it more situational.

With the historic trade of Sanju Samson, CSK have already taken a new leap.

Dhoni, the skipper
Fact

After 18 seasons, Dhoni remains the only captain to have won over 100 matches in the IPL. He has won 136 of his 235 games as captain, losing 97 (NR: 2). He is also the only player to have led a single franchise to 100-plus wins (CSK: 131).