Chennai Super Kings fast bowler Akash Madhwal has backed MS Dhoni to play in Indian Premier League 2027. Dhoni didn’t play a single game in IPL 2026. The former CSK captain missed the first two weeks of the tournament due to a calf injury. Later, Dhoni suffered a thumb injury, which kept him out of action.
Madhwal, who observed Dhoni from close quarters in the previous season, revealed the veteran never missed a training session and looked fit as a fiddle.
Akash Madhwal said in an interview with Sports Tak, “It is his call whether he plays or not. But as much as I have seen him, he is seriously very fit. Since I joined CSK, he hasn’t missed a single practice session. In every practice session, he would give 100% effort. He would bat really well. Because I am a fan of his, I watch him a lot. So, we would stand in the nets just to watch him bat, and it felt so privileged to see him playing live. So, there’s nothing like that. I feel that he will 100% play next year; he will definitely play.”
Madhwal said it is an honour to share the dressing room with MS Dhoni and the veteran is very approachable.
He added, “You also know that his presence alone is a very big thing. To be in a dressing room, and if you are in that dressing room, being a part of it is a huge deal. Brother is very approachable. He stays very calm. Whenever you want to ask anything, you can just go and talk to him. He will give you a solution for everything. He will sit you down and talk comfortably. He will listen to everything you have to say. He will give you a complete answer. Just his presence was very positive for us in that environment. It was very easy.”
The fast bowler said the CSK management maintains a chill environment to get the best out of the players.
Madhwal concluded, “I highly rate the CSK management. It is a very chill environment. You don’t feel any pressure about anything. The only pressure is that you have to perform. It’s just that if you are playing, you have to perform. He didn’t really focus much on that either. He would just say to stay in your state of mind, perform, and nothing else.”
Dhoni has scored 5439 runs in 278 IPL matches.
