CSK confirm MS Dhoni’s return for IPL 2026; Sanju Samson trade talks resurface
Chennai: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have confirmed that MS Dhoni will return for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, putting an end to months of speculation about his future.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said, “That’s right,” when asked if Dhoni would play next season. He further added, “MS has told us that he will be available for the next season.”
Viswanathan, who has been with the franchise since its inception in 2008, shares a long professional association with Dhoni and is considered one of his closest aides within the team. The 44-year-old Dhoni’s IPL participation has often been a subject of debate in recent years, but this confirmation ensures that the CSK captain will be back for at least one more season.
Last season, CSK endured a tough campaign, finishing at the bottom of the table. Dhoni led the side in the absence of regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, and reports suggest he might be looking to finish his illustrious IPL career on a high.
Dhoni has been the face of the franchise since 2008, except for two seasons when CSK were suspended. If he features in IPL 2026, it will mark his 17th season with the franchise and 19th overall in the tournament. Across 248 matches for CSK, he has scored 4,865 runs and led the team to five IPL titles — in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023.
Sanju Samson trade back in discussion
Meanwhile, discussions around a potential trade involving Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson have resurfaced. CSK and RR have reportedly reopened talks over the move, with the Royals’ co-owner Manoj Badale said to be in Mumbai exploring various trade options.
Sources indicate that a senior CSK player could be part of the proposed deal, though no names have been confirmed yet. The player in question has reportedly been sounded out about the possible switch to Rajasthan Royals.
Ahead of the November 15 retention deadline, Dhoni is expected to participate in team discussions with Viswanathan, Gaikwad, and head coach Stephen Fleming on November 10 and 11. The management is likely to finalise decisions related to player retention and the possible Samson trade during these meetings.
If the talks progress as expected, the next few days could see one of the biggest pre-season developments ahead of IPL 2026.
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Screenwriter Salim Khan on ventilator support and stable, say doctors
Mumbai (PTI): Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan suffered a brain haemorrhage which has been tackled, is on ventilator support as a safeguard and stable, doctors treating him said on Wednesday, a day after he was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital here.
The 90-year-old, one half of the celebrated Salim-Javed duo which scripted films such as "Sholay", "Deewar" and "Don" with Javed Akhtar, is in the ICU and recovery might take some time given his age.
"His blood pressure was high for which we treated him and we had to put him on a ventilator because we wanted to do certain investigations. Now the ventilator was put as a safeguard so that his situation doesn't get worse. So it is not that he is critical," Dr Jalil Parkar told reporters.
"We did the investigations that were required and today we have done a small procedure on him, I will not go into the details. The procedure done is called DSA (digital subtraction angiography). The procedure has been accomplished, he is fine and stable and shifted back to ICU. By tomorrow, we hope to get him off the ventilator. All in all, he is doing quite well," he added.
Asked whether he suffered a brain haemorrhage, the doctor said, "Unko thoda haemorrhage hua tha, which we’ve tackled. No surgery is required.
As concern over Khan's health mounted, his children, including superstar Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan, daughter Alvira, and sons-in-law Atul Agnihotri and Aayush Sharma, have been seen outside the hospital along with other well-wishers. His long-time partner Akhtar was also seen coming out of the hospital.
Khan, a household name in the 70s and 80s, turned 90 on November 24 last year. It was the day Dharmendra, the star of many of his films, including "Sholay", "Seeta aur Geeta" and "Yaadon Ki Baraat", passed away.
Hailing from an affluent family in Indore, Khan arrived in Mumbai in his 20s with dreams of stardom. He was good looking and confident he would make a mark in the industry as an actor. But that did not happen. And then, after struggling for close to a decade and getting confined to small roles in films, he changed lanes.
He worked as an assistant to Abrar Alvi and soon met Akhtar to form one of Hindi cinema's most formidable writing partnerships. They worked together on two dozen movies with most of them achieving blockbuster status.
Other than "Sholay", "Deewar" and "Don", Khan and Akhtar also penned "Trishul", "Zanjeer", "Seeta Aur Geeta", "Haathi Mere Saathi", "Yaadon Ki Baarat" and "Mr India".
