Chennai Super Kings (CSK) retained MS Dhoni to the following season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as anticipated. He will be trying to restore his team to its icipitancy in the IPL 2025 table.
The IPL winner Mohammad Kaif of the Rajasthan Royalties has disqualified the idea of Dhoni being used as an Impact Player in the event of 2026. Although in the recent times Dhoni has been more likely to finish higher in the rank, Kaif thinks that he can also play a role in the team as a wicketkeeper and tutor.
“Dhoni does not bat anyway. He is playing to keep 20 overs and to captain 20 overs. He is playing to guide the players. He is there to guide Gaikwad. He is playing only for this, as a mentor and captain,” he said on his YouTube channel.
Ruturaj Gaikwad was injured and had to miss a substantial part of IPL 2025. During his absence, MS Dhoni was the captain of CSK. Nevertheless, Gaikwad will assume power in the year 2012. Nonetheless, Kaif feels that the Maharashtra batsman is merely the captain in name only and that it is Dhoni who decides out on the field. This is the reason why the former India batsman does not regard Dhoni as an impact player.
“On paper, Gaikwad may be the captain, but till Dhoni is on the field, things are in his hands. There is no doubt about what he does. So I do not think he will play as an impact player. Either he will rule himself out, but no chance of him being an impact player.”
Mohammad Kaif
Sanju Samson has been traded to CSK from the Rajasthan Royals. However, Kaif believes that Dhoni would wear the wicketkeeping gloves and Samson will play in the field.
“The era where a keeper could not field is gone. Now in the IPL and Indian cricket, it has all changed. Uthappa kept, Kedar Jadhav kept, KL Rahul also became a keeper. Now 2-3 wicketkeepers play in the XI, even in the Indian team. Sanju Samson will play as a fielder and Dhoni will keep in the starting at least. You need Dhoni on the field for a long time. Samson is not close to Dhoni in wicketkeeping. No one can reach that level. Only Dhoni can do what he does. He will run the game from behind.”
Mohammad Kaif
