Mumbai, April 21 – Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has stated that even if his team does not qualify for the playoffs in the ongoing Indian Premier League season, the focus will shift towards identifying and preparing a strong core group of 11 players for the next year. As per agency report, Dhoni emphasized the importance of introspection within the squad following their nine-wicket defeat against Mumbai Indians on Sunday evening.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Dhoni acknowledged the need to evaluate whether the squad is playing the right brand of cricket. He hinted that players may not be executing strategies effectively, yet expressed confidence in nearing the identification of a stable core group for future campaigns.
The veteran captain added that the team continues to take one match at a time and will strive to win each of the remaining fixtures. However, he noted that if the side loses further matches and playoff qualification becomes unlikely, it will become essential to prioritize assembling the right combination of players for next season.
Dhoni reiterated that he is not in favor of making too many changes to the playing group but remains committed to ensuring a strong comeback next year, with a carefully selected core of players ready to take on the challenges of the 2026 IPL season.
