MS Dhoni has no intention of taking up the Impact Player role if he returns to the Indian Premier League, according to former Chennai Super Kings player S Badrinath.
Badrinath revealed that he had spoken to Dhoni personally about the possibility, with the former India captain making it clear that he would rather continue as a full-time wicketkeeper.
“He has personally told me that he won’t play as an Impact Player. He sees himself as a full-time keeper, and that means he has to be on the field for the full 20 overs. So he won’t play as an Impact Player, but I feel if he does, it’ll tactically benefit CSK,” Badrinath said on his YouTube channel.
Badrinath believes the Impact Player option could actually make sense for Dhoni given the physical demands of keeping wickets for an entire innings. He pointed out that Dhoni has generally come into bat only in the latter stages of innings, while still having to spend the full 20 overs behind the stumps.
“His body cannot withstand long durations, which even Fleming has said. He is only going to bat after the 16th over and keep wickets. When his participation is so less, he would be ideal as an Impact Player,” Badrinath added.
However, Dhoni’s preference appears to be clear. The 45-year-old wants to remain involved as a wicketkeeper rather than restrict his participation to a batting role under the Impact Player rule.
The development also adds another layer to the uncertainty surrounding Dhoni’s IPL future. After missing the 2026 season, questions remain over whether the former CSK captain will return for IPL 2027. There has been no official confirmation yet regarding his plans.
Badrinath also defended the Impact Player rule while criticising CSK’s use of it during the 2026 season. He argued that Shivam Dube’s limited bowling opportunities were not because of the rule but because of the team’s tactical decisions.
“Shivam Dube bowling for India but not for CSK is not because of the Impact Player rule. It has to do with the CSK management and their lack of usage of Dube with the ball. Why are they using him as an Impact Player? The rule cannot be blamed,” Badrinath said.
He also questioned CSK’s handling of overseas spinner Akeal Hosein, saying the team should have made him a regular member of the playing XI instead of using him as an Impact Player.
“Akeal Hosein should be a certainty in the playing 11. But CSK keeps him as an Impact Player, and then when they bat poorly, they end up using an extra batter as an Impact Player. Because of this, Akeal Hosein ends up not playing. That’s just foolishness. You can’t blame the rule for your own foolishness,” he added.