The questions surrounding MS Dhoni’s IPL career never end, but this time the answer seems clearer than ever. At least someone close to Dhoni believes that this coming year will be Dhoni’s last season in the IPL as a player. Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Robin Uthappa has confirmed that IPL 2026 will be Dhoni’s last season as a player.
Robin Uthappa confirmed MS Dhoni’s IPL retirement
During the coverage of the IPL 2026 mini auction on JioHotstar, Uthappa said, “There shouldn’t be much doubt about Dhoni’s plans after this season. I think everything is clear. This is going to be Dhoni’s last season. There shouldn’t be any speculation or guesswork about it now. He will retire completely this year.”
CSK’s approach in the auction has further strengthened Uthappa’s belief. A franchise once known for valuing experience has now placed its bets on youth. The five-time champions have spent heavily on uncapped Indian players. 19-year-old Prashanth Veer and 20-year-old Kartik Sharma have been signed for Rs 14.2 crore, making them the joint-most expensive uncapped Indians in IPL auction history. Zac Foulkes is a New Zealand talent, while Noor Ahmed (20) and Dewald Brevis (22) are still in their early 20s.
Uthappa feels this change isn’t sudden, but rather part of a long-term plan that’s already been put in place. “I think when you look at the investment in youth and the kind of teams they’ve selected over the last year, all signs point to that… They’re focusing on developing talent, finding talent, and keeping that talent within the franchise.”
Dhoni is now 44 years old. He was retained before the auction, but his price (4 crores) was not high because he was retained under the new uncapped player rule. According to this rule, players who have not played an international match in the last five years or who do not have a BCCI contract are covered by this rule.