Will MS Dhoni play in IPL 2026? R Ashwin reveals the only condition for Mahi’s final appearance in CSK colours

Former CSK spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, gave an honest assessment of how likely a Dhoni return actually is.

He believes that bringing Dhoni back into the playing eleven would force a rethink of the combination that has been working well for Chennai, and that kind of disruption mid-season is something teams generally try to avoid.

However, he did leave open one particular scenario. If Chennai lose two of their next three games and finds themselves out of contention for a playoff berth, a farewell match for Dhoni in Chennai could become a genuine possibility.

“If MS Dhoni comes, then the combination will be changed. It becomes very difficult, so I think there are very slim chances [of making a comeback]. If they lose two of their next three games, then he might get a farewell game in Chennai," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

CSK face Lucknow Super Giants twice in quick succession, at home on May 10 and then away on May 15. Lucknow currently occupy the bottom of the points table with only two wins from nine games and are essentially eliminated from playoff contention.

Back-to-back wins against a side with so little left to play for could give Chennai the momentum and the breathing room they need going into the final stages of the league phase.

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The Cricket News Opinion: Dhoni deserves a proper send-off, but on CSK's terms

There is a romantic version of this story where Dhoni walks out at the Chepauk one last time with the playoff spot already secure and the crowd giving him the farewell he has earned.

Whether cricket delivers that version is another matter. What is clear is that CSK should not force his return for the sake of optics or sentiment. If the team is winning without him, that has to come first. The farewell, if it comes, should feel earned and timely, not manufactured.

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