IPL 2026: Irfan Pathan hints at MS Dhoni’s successor in CSK, names this star

The addition of Sanju Samson to the Chennai Super Kings setup could be a sign of IPL 2026 being MS Dhoni’s last, said Irfan Pathan while speaking on JioStar’s ‘IPL Today Live’.

With Sanju’s arrival, I feel Dhoni can now say that maybe it is time for him to pass on that baton, Pathan said.

“It looks like this will be MS Dhoni’s last season. The signs are there because, if you look at the Chennai setup, they have brought in a wicketkeeper-batsman who can play for the next few years. You can build your team around him and he can be the face of the franchise, that is Sanju Samson.”


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“He has also upgraded himself in terms of form in international cricket. He has just won a World Cup and has been batting fantastically well. That is one player MS Dhoni would want to pass the baton to, someone who has the caliber to do all that and whom even the fans can identify and connect with. With Sanju’s arrival, I feel Dhoni can now say that maybe it is time for him to pass on that baton. But should this have happened earlier? Because I feel that a player like MS Dhoni cannot be just a two-over player. You do not build your legacy like that. So yes, I think the time is right.”

Dhoni has featured in 278 IPL matches across two franchises - CSK and Rising Pune Supergiant during the 2016 and 2017 seasons when CSK were suspended - scoring 5,439 runs in the tournament.

Last season, he was mostly seen in brief cameo roles during the death overs, scoring 196 runs from 13 innings.

CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has stated that the veteran will be available for the full season and is expected to play "all matches" in the 2026 campaign.