Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin believes Chennai Super Kings veteran MS Dhoni should not play as an Impact Player in the upcoming IPL 2026. There have been reports suggesting that Dhoni could play as an Impact Player in the forthcoming edition.
Ashwin said Dhoni should not play the entire season if he doesn’t want to play as a regular player in the starting XI. Dhoni could only manage 196 runs in 13 innings of IPL 2025 at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 135.17 as he batted mostly down the order.
“I do not agree that he has to stay on the impact list. If he is in the squad, he has to play. If he does not want to, he should not play the entire season, that is it. I am not in agreement with him being an impact player,” Ravichandran Ashwin said on ‘Ash ki Baat’.
Ashwin said Dhoni will have a crucial role to play on the field in guiding CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and the bowlers.
“I think Dhoni will have a critical role to support this new bowling line-up on the field. I was also there last year. MS wants that he plays the last three overs. But the top order did not score many times and he had to go up. This time, they have added power in the top order to avoid this. Maybe this time, out of 14 games, he will get to bat higher only in 3-4 games, or else he will only come in the end. His biggest role will be in keeping, setting the field, and giving a shoulder to Ruturaj,” he stated.
The former CSK all-rounder said Dhoni is indicating that he wants to play in IPL 2026 as he has been practising hard in the last three months.
“If you are making a CSK XI, and Dhoni is in the squad, the debate ends right there. He has to be in the XI. If he does not want to play, he would retire. He has100% belief that he can play. He is practicing from the last three months. He is giving the message that I want to play, you think whatever you want. If he wants to play, it is not possible to go tell him you can’t play. He is not your number six batter, that I will agree. But he can play a double role. He can be the on-field compass for Ruturaj,” he said.
CSK will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against the inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals, at Guwahati.
