After the appointment of former India pacer Zaheer Khan as the new head coach for IPL 2027, Chennai Super Kings issued an update on MS Dhoni's future.
Dhoni’s prospects had been much debated since he did not even play a single match during IPL 2026. The former India captain was injured, and fitness problems sidelined him.
However, CSK managing director Kasi Viswanathan has now said that Dhoni continues to be a player for the franchise, and this is the best indication yet of his current status throughout the 2027 season.
Dhoni remains a CSK player
As for Dhoni, Viswanathan said that the veteran wicketkeeper-batter is a player of CSK still a part of the team.
"Basically, he continues to be a player for us," Viswanathan said.
That is not, however, to say Dhoni will definitely be able to play in IPL 2027. It is a statement that solidifies his status with the team, but the final decision on his participation is his own, based on his health and fitness.
Earlier in 2026, CSK CEO Viswanathan had also said that Dhoni's future would be contingent on the former India captain himself. Dhoni would remain attached to CSK, either as a player or even in another role, as the franchise had said in 2011.
Dhoni did not play any match in IPL 2026; hence, his availability for the next season is crucial for the team.
Dhoni played a role in Zaheer Khan's appointment
As the franchise has clarified Dhoni's current playing status, the 45-year-old also had a big role to play in appointing Zaheer Khan.
CSK announced on September 21 that Zaheer would replace Stephen Fleming as head coach. Fleming had been with the club for 18 years before the two sides ended their long-standing association.
Viswanathan confirmed that Dhoni was part of the cricket management group involved in the decision. The group also included CSK owner Rupa Gurunath and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Viswanathan said that the management wanted Zaheer because of his experience and the fact that he has a long IPL career as well as work in player development. He added that Dhoni's words of advice also played a role in the decision-making process.
The Indian Express reported that Dhoni had been given responsibility for finding Fleming's successor and had spoken to several candidates before Zaheer emerged as the preferred option.
Zaheer gets freedom to build his support staff
Zaheer’s appointment is a significant change in CSK’s coaching setup.
After playing cricket, he will be the head coach of the team for IPL 2027 and has also worked with Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, as well as being a mentor of Mumbai Indians for the last few years.
CSK have also confirmed that Zaheer will have autonomy over the selection of his support staff.
The franchise's current support team includes former Australia batter Mike Hussey, Sridharan Sriram, Rajiv Kumar, Eric Simons, and James Foster. Viswanathan said Zaheer will decide on the backroom team in the future.
Zaheer's appointment comes after CSK did not make it to the IPL playoffs for a third consecutive season. The team was at the bottom of the points table in IPL 2025, and CSK is now at the very bottom, and the team's coaching, as well as playing structure, is now in need of a change.
The message CSK is sending is clear: MS Dhoni is still a player of the team. In IPL 2027, whether he will get the chance will be up to the team's decision-making process, but his role in the appointment of Zaheer Khan indicates that he is still a part of CSK's cricketing decisions.
Now that CSK has a new head coach and Dhoni is still a player, attention will now turn to CSK's preparations for the 2027 season and whether the veteran star returns to the field.
