‘Dhoni’s Time May Be Ending’ – Ex-Player Comments on Samson Joining CSK
The recent signing of Sanju Samson by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has sparked speculation that this could be the final season for MS Dhoni in the Indian Premier League (IPL), according to former India cricketer Irfan Pathan. Samson, who played for Rajasthan Royals for 12 years, was traded to CSK in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, making it one of the IPL’s biggest deals.
Dhoni, a five-time IPL-winning captain, has seen his performance decline in recent seasons due to age. His role with the bat has been limited to brief cameos at the end, often batting in the seventh position. In the last IPL season, he scored just 196 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 135.17.
On JioStar’s ‘IPL Today Live,’ Pathan suggested that IPL 2026 might mark Dhoni’s retirement. He highlighted CSK’s decision to invest in a young, promising wicketkeeper-batsman like Samson, who can lead the franchise for years to come. “Sanju has proven himself in international cricket and is someone Dhoni would want to pass the mantle to,” Pathan said.
With Samson’s arrival, it seems the right time for Dhoni to step aside. However, Pathan questioned whether this transition should have happened earlier, emphasizing that a player of Dhoni’s caliber shouldn’t be reduced to just two overs. “You don’t build a legacy like that,” he added.
Looking ahead, CSK has also signed uncapped wicketkeepers Urvil Patel and Kartik Sharma alongside Samson. Kartik Sharma became the most expensive uncapped player in IPL history when CSK paid ₹14.20 crore for him during the mini-auction.
Pathan noted Dhoni’s struggles due to a knee injury, which limited his effectiveness as a finisher. “He knew he couldn’t perform like before and it affected the team,” he said.
Meanwhile, Samson has been practicing as the wicketkeeper during CSK’s internal matches, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad confirming that he and Samson will open the innings together in matches. Whether Dhoni will play as an Impact Player remains to be seen, but the focus is now on how CSK’s new-look squad will perform this season.