Kamal Ghorui
MS Dhoni has begun batting practice ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) sharing a video of the session on social media.The official CSK Instagram handle posted visuals of the 44-year-old working on his defence and back-foot shots. The post was captioned: “A treat, every time he bats. Superfans, you know what time it is.“Despite skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad being in strong form in domestic cricket, CSK continue to have Dhoni as their marquee player as they look to target a sixth IPL title. The franchise has won the tournament five times.CSK finished last in the previous season, managing four wins from 14 matches. Dhoni had a modest campaign, scoring 196 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 135.17, with a top score of 30 not out. He also led the side in matches where Gaikwad was unavailable due to injury.With wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson joining CSK through a trade with Rajasthan Royals, Dhoni’s role and future have come under focus. Fans will be watching closely to see if he can make a stronger impact after a difficult 2025 season.Dhoni remains one of the leading run-scorers in IPL history. He has made 5,439 runs in 278 matches and 242 innings at an average of 38.80, with a strike rate of 137.45. His tally includes 24 half-centuries, with a highest score of 84 not out.CSK also saw positives last season with the rise of young players Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel. Ahead of the new season, the franchise made two major purchases, signing Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Prashant Veer and Rajasthan wicketkeeper Kartik Sharma for Rs 14.20 crore each, making them the most expensive uncapped players in IPL history.
