New Delhi, October 25: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon MS Dhoni has acknowledged Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) superior performances over the past two Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons, admitting that his franchise has struggled to match its rivals while expressing optimism about a turnaround in 2027.
Dhoni, who missed the entire IPL 2026 season due to fitness concerns, made the remarks while speaking at a healthcare event in Bengaluru. Reflecting on the contrasting fortunes of the two franchises, the former CSK captain stressed that performances on the field mattered far more than reputations or the quality of a squad on paper.
“I always felt, you know, how good you are on paper hardly matters. How good you are on that particular day is something which is the most important. And the shorter the format, the narrower is the margin between the best of teams,” Dhoni said.
Acknowledging CSK’s recent difficulties, he admitted that the team had not maintained the consistency required to compete at the highest level in recent seasons.
“The last two years, we have struggled, and it is a fact. You know, there is no point shying away from the fact that RCB has done really, really well,” he added.
RCB’s Rise Contrasts With CSK’s Struggles
The two franchises have experienced contrasting fortunes in the IPL. CSK, five-time champions, lifted the trophy in 2021 and 2023 but have endured difficult campaigns in between, including a bottom-place finish in 2025. The franchise finished eighth in the 2026 season, with its campaign featuring occasional promising performances but lacking consistency.
RCB, meanwhile, have emerged as one of the competition’s most successful sides in recent years. After missing the playoffs in 2023, Bengaluru returned to the knockout stages and subsequently won consecutive titles in 2025 and 2026 under captain Rajat Patidar.
The rivalry has also tilted in RCB’s favour in recent encounters, with the Bengaluru franchise winning four of the teams’ last five meetings over the past three seasons.
Dhoni acknowledged RCB’s sustained success while pointing out that difficult periods are inevitable in professional sport. According to him, a team’s response to adversity reveals more about its character than its performance during successful campaigns.
“That is how life is. You have good times, you have bad times, but you know how to come out of it, what things you want to work on as a team, those are crucial things,” he said.
He added that CSK had always understood that winning streaks would eventually end, making it essential for players and management to respond constructively when results did not go their way.
“The real test of character is when you’re not doing well,” Dhoni said, acknowledging that RCB had delivered consistently while CSK had fallen short over the past two seasons.
Dhoni Looks ahead to IPL 2027
Looking towards the next season, Dhoni expressed hope that CSK could avoid injuries and have their key players available throughout the tournament. He also emphasised the importance of players understanding their roles and responsibilities within the team.
“It makes life slightly easy when people understand their role and responsibility. So we hope for another close one so that, you know, next time when we come over here in Bengaluru for a clash against RCB, we can say that, okay, you know, 2027, we had another close game which was a lot of fun for the spectators,” he said.
Dhoni also praised Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for its batting-friendly conditions, describing it as a venue where the ball travels a considerable distance and even mistimed shots can clear the boundary.
He noted that the ground provides an entertaining spectacle for spectators while presenting a different kind of challenge for bowlers, who must find ways to contain aggressive batters on a high-scoring surface.
“Because at the end of the day, we are entertainers, you know, we come over here and entertain,” Dhoni said.
While acknowledging the pressure bowlers face at the venue, he suggested that performing well under such conditions can enhance their reputation.
With IPL 2027 on the horizon, CSK will look to rebuild their campaign around fitness, consistency and clearly defined player roles. Dhoni’s comments underline the challenge facing the franchise as it seeks to return to winning ways and close the gap on a dominant RCB side.