NEW DELHI: Former India batter Mohammad Kaif spoke about MS Dhoni's role for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026, highlighting the value the legendary player brings to the team despite not being at full fitness in recent years, while ruling out the possibility of him being used as an Impact Player.
"Dhoni does not bat anyway. He is playing to keep 20 overs and to captain 20 overs. He is playing to guide the players. He is there to guide Gaikwad. He is playing only for this, as a mentor and captain," he said on his YouTube channel.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad missed a significant portion of IPL 2025 due to injury, during which MS Dhoni captained CSK. According to Kaif, while Gaikwad may hold the title of captain on paper, it is Dhoni who truly leads the team on the field. This, Kaif believes, is why Dhoni should not be considered an Impact Player in the IPL.
"On paper, Gaikwad may be the captain, but till Dhoni is on the field, things are in his hands. There is no doubt about what he does. So I do not think he will play as an impact player. Either he will rule himself out, but no chance of him being an impact player," he added.
Kaif also settled the debate about who will keep wickets after CSK acquired Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals, stating that Dhoni will continue to don the gloves in the 19th season of the league.
"The era where a keeper could not field is gone. Now in the IPL and Indian cricket, it has all changed. Uthappa kept, Kedar Jadhav kept, KL Rahul also became a keeper. Now 2-3 wicketkeepers play in the XI, even in the Indian team.
Sanju Samson will play as a fielder and Dhoni will keep in the starting at least. You need Dhoni on the field for a long time. Samson is not close to Dhoni in wicketkeeping. No one can reach that level. Only Dhoni can do what he does. He will run the game from behind," he said.
