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MS Dhoni stands as an everlasting legend who will never cease to exist in the history of cricket. What he has achieved for Chennai Super Kings may never be repeated.However all things in existence will eventually cease to exist. The fans refer to him as 'Thala' because he has reached the age of 44 and faced multiple injuries during his recent years. The team needs to decide whether they should keep him active for the current season. The answer may not please his supporters.

Dhoni played the entire 2023 season in serious pain because he had to manage his knee issue which restricted his movement to almost one leg. After he had his surgery his batting duties decreased to a substantial extent. Now he has not appeared in any matches during IPL 2026. Reports mention either a calf strain or a groin problem. CSK has already played six matches and their playoff chances look slim because they have only won two matches.

The team should not choose to use Dhoni as their player in the current match. He has played 44 matches during the past three years which has resulted in him facing a total of 275 deliveries; this amounts to an average of 6.25 deliveries he faced in each match. The team gains minimal benefit from including a player who can only bat for one over.

The time period actually saw Dhoni batting in the 7th through 9th batting positions. He has completed three innings as a No. 9 batsman during which he accumulated a total of 31 runs. He scored 236 runs across 14 innings as a No. 8 batsman and 444 runs from his 25 innings as a No. 7 batsman. His current statistics indicate that he no longer meets the essential responsibilities which the team requires. His reflexes and his intensity capabilities no longer match their previous levels according to common understanding.

Since 2020, Dhoni has struggled to make a strong impact with the bat. That year, he scored 200 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 116. In 2021, he managed 114 runs at 106. In 2022, he scored 232 at 123. The 2023 season saw him score 104 at 182, followed by his scores of 161 at 220 and 196 at 135 in his next games.

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The team's future development depends on their decision to keep using Dhoni for active play or to bring him back from his current situation. The team signed Kartik Sharma who plays as a wicketkeeper-batter for ₹14.2 crore. Is he meant to sit on the bench? The team should use this season to develop both him and Prashant Veer who was acquired at the same price.

The CSK management controls all team decisions because they will determine the organization's future direction. The team achieved most of its victories under Dhoni's guidance but their next championship will take longer to achieve if they postpone player replacements.