Ahmedabad, May 21: For the first time ever,CSK (Chennai Super Kings) has completed an entire IPL campaign without seeing MS Dhoni face a single delivery. Although the legendary skipper remained part of the squad in IPL 2026, a persistent leg injury ruled him out of all 14 league matches, sparking massive speculation over whether fans have already witnessed Dhoni’s final season in yellow.

Following CSK’s defeat to the Gujarat Titans on Thursday, bowling coach Eric Simons finally addressed the burning question surrounding Dhoni’s future.

Simons made it clear that the decision lies solely with the former India captain. “Only MS knows when the time is right,” he said. “If he feels he can contribute, he will play. If not, he won’t continue just for the sake of it.”

Despite missing the season, Captain Cool’s presence around the squad remained invaluable. Simons revealed that the 44-year-old still looked exceptional during practice sessions and was striking the ball “as well as ever.” Although, his inability to run comfortably due to his injury prevented him from taking the field.

With Dhoni being unavailable for the entirety of the 14 league matches, CSK counted on to several young talents throughout this IPL season. The team trusted new faces like Kartik Sharma, Urvil Patel, and Ayush Mhatre, and handed key opportunities to players to prove themselves.

Coach Simons admits the season was challenging for CSK, describing the squad as still young and developing talents. Injuries to key players, like Jamie Overton, also challenged the team’s balance and momentum at crucial points.

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Still, the coach believes the difficult movement faced by CSK helped the team recognize their squad better and identify the players efficiency of leading the franchise into the future.

For the time being, MS Dhoni’s IPL journey still remains undecided, but one thing is certain: the door for a dramatic return is still open for IPL 2027.