Mohammad Kaif, the former India batter, thinks MS Dhoni is well aware that his time as a player is nearly over. In his view, Chennai Super Kings now need to accept that and look beyond him. The franchise has already begun preparing for the future ahead of the IPL 2027 retention deadline on November 17.

This matters because it frames the coming decisions as ones the franchise can no longer put off. A club that has long been tied to a single figure cannot drift through a transition without a clear plan, and the retention window leaves little room for hesitation. How Chennai handles the next few weeks will show whether it can make firm choices while still respecting a player of Dhoni's standing. That balance will be closely watched by supporters and rival teams alike.

Read the full story on CricTracker for more detail.