MS Dhoni opines that Ruturaj Gaikwad’s return will be a big boost for Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) batting order in the next IPL 2026 season. In IPL 2025, Gaikwad had to sit out most of the season and he only played five games, following which he was ruled out due to an elbow injury.
“We are slightly worried about our batting order,” Dhoni said at an event in Chennai. “But I think our batting order is quite sorted out now. Rutu (Gaikwad) will be coming back. He got injured. But he will be coming back. So, we are quite sorted now.”
With Dhoni returning to captaincy duties last season, CSK had high hopes of reviving fortunes, but it did not happen. The side finished the tournament at the bottom of the table, having won only four of 14 matches, highlighting its struggles throughout the season.
“I won’t say we [CSK] slacked off [in IPL 2025],” he said. “But there were certain holes that we needed to plug in. A small auction is coming in December. Some loopholes are there, and we will try to plug those in.”
In the future, Dhoni stressed the need to strengthen the team in the mini-auction this year. Gaikwad, who last played competitively on April 8 against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur, had also signed a county contract with Yorkshire but withdrew, citing personal reasons. He is now expected to return to domestic cricket as a member of the West Zone team in the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025–26, starting later this month.
“Yes, the last couple of years have not been good for us,” Dhoni said. “We have not been up to the mark. But what is important is for you to see the learnings. Yes, you had a bad season. But what went wrong? And that was the question for us last year also.
“We were like, ‘okay, there are some shortcomings’. But first, we needed to exactly figure out what the shortcomings were and then look at solutions. I feel more often than not, we have been able to figure out what exactly went wrong. In sports, you know you can have a very good time, and at the same time, there will be periods when you won’t be performing well. In CSK, more often than not, we are on the higher side.
“So, we do talk about the processes. But at the same time, we do want the result to come to our side. Last year, it wasn’t there. But looking ahead, we will try to sort out most of the things, and we will hopefully be at our best.”
Considering the team’s travails in the past few seasons, Dhoni admitted CSK haven’t been good enough. He emphasised it was time to reflect and work on the main problem areas before the next season.
“It’s a very long relationship that we have had, and it started much before the start of IPL … 2005 was the time when I made my Test debut, which happened to be in Chennai. So, it started from that point of time. And yes, CSK helped in a big way because all of a sudden, I’m spending 45-50 days here.
“So, I feel the relationship over the years has grown. It helped me improve as a person. It helped me improve as a cricketer. So, CSK just happened. I think it’s good for Chennai. So, today it’s good for me also. Nowadays, when we go and say CSK, it’s not a brand only in India, but when we go to Australia, South Africa, or any of the cricket-playing nations.”
Having been with CSK since the beginning of IPL in 2008 and taking them to five titles, Dhoni also revealed that the franchise, as well as the city of Chennai, have been instrumental in moulding his life both as a cricketer and as a person.
