'For sure': Suresh Raina leaves a big tip over MS Dhoni's IPL 2026 Future | Mint

Knife Dhoni, who soon turns 44, keeps the spotlight on, while the fans look forward to a trip to memory track every time CSK plays. However, Thala – as his fans call him – did not give the CSK believers much to rejoice over this season, either with the bat or as captain. There is a lot of speculation whether Dhoni is playing his last season, but former CSK player Suresh Raina says the batsman will definitely play another season. In a conversation with Jatin Sapru on his YouTube channel, Raina said: “I hope they (CSK) come with better planning next season. And Dhoni will play one more season,” CSK coach Stephen Fleming said earlier to comment on Dhoni’s retirement while talking to the press this month. “It’s not my role to end it. I have no idea. I just enjoy working with him. He is still going strong … I don’t even ask these days. You are what asks. ‘ Says Fleming about Dhoni’s retirement. Raina defends Dhoni’s role in the Chennai auction strategy: Raina also said that Dhoni did not take the final call on CSK’s auction strategy and that the ‘core group’ made the decision on who to choose this year in Jeddah. At the mega auction this year, there were a number of key players such as Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Jos Buttler, Ishan Kishan and Kl Rahul, but CSK did not lead one of them, which led to what experts called a lack of young energy in the group. Talk about Dhoni’s role in the IPL auction strategy, Raina said: ‘They always say that MS Dhoni makes the final call. But to be very honest, I never attended one of the auctions. I was never part of the discussions. I always talked about the players who were preserved. MS may have received a call to go with a player, but he can’t have the involvement, ” The core group handles an A -group – this type of auction. The former cricketer added. First published: 27 Apr 2025, 12:13 pm Ist