Faf du Plessis reveals MS Dhoni's 'superpower' as CSK legend weighs IPL return

Faf du Plessis opens up on Dhoni's leadership

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has offered a rare insight into what made MS Dhoni such a distinctive leader during their nine seasons together at Chennai Super Kings (CSK), pointing to the former India captain's instinctive reading of the game and his composure under pressure.

Du Plessis, who scored 4,773 runs across 154 IPL appearances and won three titles with CSK before joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2022, said Dhoni preferred to read the match as it unfolded rather than lean on pre-planned strategy.

"This guy has an incredible understanding of the game on the field. He doesn't like to plan too much beforehand and prefers to be instinctive during the match. That was his superpower. He would read the game and the players while staying remarkably calm, as everyone knows he is a very composed person. That's something I want to take from him and apply to my own captaincy," said Faf.

Du Plessis's reflections echo earlier praise from those who worked closely with the CSK icon. On 23 October 2026, former CSK and India bowling coach Eric Simons described the privilege of knowing Dhoni beyond the public persona: "The public saw the cricketer, I was privileged to see MSD the man. I believe the man is even more remarkable than the cricketer."

Dhoni's future hinges on a fitness report

While Du Plessis looked back on the lessons learned, uncertainty continues to cloud Dhoni's playing future. The wicketkeeper-batter, who turns 46 next year, missed the entire IPL 2026 season through recurring injuries but has expressed a desire to feature for CSK again — provided his body allows it.

Speaking at a recent event, Dhoni said he would assess his physical condition before committing: "You will know before December. Doc, I will have to go through the test. You will have to give me the report, and then before December, I will have to see, you know, how strong I am to maybe play one more season."

True to form, Dhoni used humour to address the prospect of not being fit enough: "And if I am not (fit enough), then, you know, you will have to make sure that you do everything right with me and make sure that this old vintage vehicle is running well on the road. So all the pressure is on them."

CSK's management has indicated the final call rests with Dhoni himself, with a decision expected before December.