Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has predicted that former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni will come out all guns blazing in the IPL 2026 season. The cricketer-turned-analyst believes that the 44-year-old will work on his weakness against leg-spinners and counter that in the nets. The statement came amid Dhoni’s weakness against spinners over the last few years. The likes of Sunil Narine, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravi Bishnoi have challenged him with the ball. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif said: “Teams are keeping overs of leg-spin, so this must have hurt Dhoni’s ego. The leg-spinners’ overs are kept for the 19th and 20th overs. It has been publicized that Dhoni can’t hit leg-spin, so I think he’s going to counter that. I think he will practice leg-spin in the nets. CSK will call leg-spinners in the camp. Dhoni, the batter, in front of leg-spinners will be a big challenge next season.” Kaif further added that the Super Kings will turn things around after finishing 10th in the IPL 2025 points table. He feels that Dewald Brevis will strengthen the middle order: “(Among available players) This time, CSK will play better. The main reason is. This is because Brevis has improved as a player. He came last year and produced impactful innings. In the last match, he scored 57; it was a match-winning knock, and he was also the Man of the Match against Gujarat.” Notably, Brevis smashed 225 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 180, including two half-centuries last season. The Proteas batter followed that up with 125 off 56 balls against Australia in a T20I series. The right-hander then hit a quickfire 53 off 26 balls in the next game. He recently became the costliest pick at the 2025-26 SA20 auction. “They have broken the barrier” Mohammad Kaif wants CSK to groom Urvil Patel and Ayush Mhatre Mohammad Kaif further lauded CSK for bringing in youngsters like Urvil Patel and Ayush Mhatre in IPL 2025. The 44-year-old wants the Super Kings to groom the two players while citing the example of current skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. He said in the same video: “I think what CSK hasn’t done before is that they are backing 22 and 23-year-olds. Maybe this time it might be witnessed. Urvil and Mhatre groom these players. They had played the trump card on Ruturaj Gaikwad in Dubai, and they won the title. They have broken the barrier. They have involved youngsters in the mix.” For the unversed, Mhatre slammed 240 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 188. 97 in the IPL 2025 season. The Mumbai batter slammed 94 off 48 balls against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Meanwhile, Urvil impressed with the bat in his limited outings. The 27-year-old slammed a quickfire 31 off 11 balls on his debut against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The wicketkeeper-batter then hit 37 off 19 deliveries against the Gujarat Titans (GT). Notably, Gaikwad made his CSK debut in IPL 2020/21 in Dubai, scoring 204 runs in six innings, including three half-centuries. The opening batter then emerged as the Orange Cap winner in IPL 2021, scoring 635 runs in 16 matches with the help of one ton and four 50s. His efforts helped the Super Kings clinch the 2021 title.
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