Former Chennai Super Kings all-rounder reckons the veteran batter MS Dhoni will not bat in the lower order for the franchise in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League 2026. In the previous season of the tournament, Dhoni continuously batted lower down the order despite some opportunities to bat higher.

Ashwin highlighted that Dhoni has been preparing really well ahead of what may be his last IPL season. The former off-spinner reckons Dhoni could bat at one down for the five-time champions.

Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel, “Dhoni looks set to play as he has already started practicing. He’s looking fit. Some said he may not play in the 11, or this might be his last season. But it looks like he got motivated seeing Imran Tahir. Looking at him, it doesn’t look like he’ll bat at No.9. He looks like he’ll come out to bat at No.3 in the power play and be the enforcer, the way he has begun practice.”

Ashwin hailed CSK’s batting line-up, calling it unstoppable. CSK has top-order batters like Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, and Shivam Dube.

“They’ve scouted very well and boast a powerhouse of a batting lineup. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Karthik Sharma, and Prashant Veer is a batting lineup, barring the inexperience in the last two, you ask how are teams going to stop this batting lineup? Even a 200 to 200 becomes really difficult for teams to stop CSK to,” said Ashwin (via the aforementioned source).

Ashwin said it would be interesting to note what kind of batting combination CSK backs in IPL 2026.

“Even Jamie Overton is going great guns. Only the combination CSK decides to go with is to be seen. Ayush Mhatre, irrespective of what happens in the U-19 World Cup, will deliver in the IPL. CSK’s batting is a tough one to stop. If they get the combination and momentum right, that is a batting lineup that’s really going to make work very difficult for bowlers around the tournament.”

IPL 2026 will commence on March 26.