Suresh Raina Reveals MS Dhoni’s Honest Reply on IPL 2027 Return

Suresh Raina revealed MS Dhoni’s response about returning for IPL 2027 after CSK’s match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Suresh Raina shared details of his conversation with MS Dhoni amid growing speculation surrounding the Chennai Super Kings legend’s IPL future. The discussion happened after Match 63 of IPL 2026 between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk on May 18.

Fans expected Dhoni to feature in what many believed could become his final IPL appearance. However, the veteran wicketkeeper remained on the bench and did not enter the playing XI because of injury concerns that troubled him throughout IPL 2026.

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Speaking during the post-match show on Star Sports, Raina revealed that he insisted Dhoni to return for another season. Raina joked that IPL 2026 should not count because Dhoni missed most of the campaign.

According to Raina, Dhoni replied that his body currently feels weak and that fitness alone will decide whether he returns next year.

“I told MS Dhoni ‘you have given IPL 2026 a missed call. It won’t count. You have to come back next year’. He said ‘nahi yaar, body thoda waisa hai (my body is a little weak)’. I said ‘we are not believing anything. You have to play next year’. It’s his personal call. I think he is positive. The team is also gelling well again,” Raina said.

Stephen Fleming Breaks Silence on Dhoni’s Future

Coach Stephen Fleming also avoided giving a direct answer on MS Dhoni’s IPL future during the post-match press conference after Chennai Super Kings’ clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The Chennai Super Kings head coach said the final decision rests with the franchise management and not with him personally. Fleming admitted that discussions around Dhoni’s future have increased throughout IPL 2026.

“It’s a choice for the management. I know there has been a lot of talk about it. MS (Dhoni) has been around a lot this year, which is very important for the team, for young players in continuity, so he’s been a big part. He hasn’t played, but he’s still had a big influence on the team,” Fleming said.

“There’s a lot of good things we’ve done. We’ve introduced some new players that will hopefully be generation players for CSK. But I know we are judged on results, that’s fair. So yeah, that’s a management call, not mine,” he said on the topic,” he added.

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