MS Dhoni, the former captain of India, is currently playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), proving that he is one of the nation’s fittest cricket players. Despite retiring from the international cricket formats in 2020, the 44-year-old has yet to consider quitting the game.
As a fitness enthusiast, MS Dhoni believes that the nation’s average population’s level of fitness has significantly decreased. Using his daughter Ziva as an example, he clarified that even she isn’t as fit because she doesn’t participate in any athletic activities. Therefore, Dhoni’s statement suggests that people should take up any sport to maintain their agility.

“Nowadays that age is coming down, in the sense the amount of physical activity is coming down. So, the average fitness level of us as Indians, that has gone down. Even my daughter, I feel she doesn’t do a lot of physical activity. She is not into sport so we have to plan things where you (are) physically active. That’s how it has been. A lot of people don’t play sport,” said Dhoni at a Neuberg event on Monday, July 21.
MS Dhoni’s possible return at IPL 2026

Despite a poor performance in the IPL 2025, the Ranchi native is keeping his options open for a possible return in the lucrative league’s next season. The most of his appearances were in losing situations for the team, however he did have a few good ones down the order. After Ruturaj Gaikwad, the team’s mainstay captain, was sidelined with an elbow fracture, the famous cricketer was given the chance to lead CSK once more.
After a series of defeats, the franchise was even removed in the season, though it boasted a few big names in the team. It is still to see whether CSK retain him even in the upcoming year but the cricketer, likely will make a decision on it a bit later when the time gets closer.