MS Dhoni (left) and Faf du Plessis (TOI Photo)

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has offered an insight into what made MS Dhoni stand out as a leader during their time together at Chennai Super Kings (CSK), highlighting the former India captain’s instinctive approach to the game and his ability to remain calm under pressure.Du Plessis spent nine seasons with CSK before joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2022. Across 154 IPL appearances, he has scored 4,773 runs and won three IPL titles during his time with the Chennai-based franchise. Reflecting on his experience of playing under Dhoni, the Proteas batter explained how the wicketkeeper-batter’s ability to read situations and respond instinctively influenced his own approach to captaincy.Speaking on the Prakhar Gupta Podcast, Du Plessis said Dhoni preferred to assess circumstances as they unfolded rather than rely heavily on plans made before a match.“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.

MS Dhoni’s IPL future hinges on fitness

While Du Plessis has reflected on the lessons he learnt from Dhoni, uncertainty continues to surround the former CSK captain’s playing future. Dhoni has expressed his desire to feature for the franchise in the next IPL season, but has made it clear that his fitness will determine whether he can continue.Speaking at an event recently, Dhoni said he would assess his physical condition before making a final decision on his participation.“You will know before December,” Dhoni said. “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.”The wicketkeeper-batter, who will turn 46 next year, missed the entire IPL 2026 season because of recurring injuries. His potential return remains a significant talking point for CSK, who have struggled to recapture their earlier success in recent seasons.Dhoni stepped down as captain in 2024, handing over the leadership to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Since then, CSK have failed to reach the playoffs, finishing fifth, tenth and eighth in the points table across the three seasons.Dhoni also responded to the possibility of being unable to continue playing, using humour to underline the importance of getting his fitness right.“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,” Dhoni added, with a hint of light-heartedness, as he often does while responding to questions about his future.CSK’s management has previously indicated that the decision rests with Dhoni himself. However, the franchise is also preparing for a major overhaul ahead of the next season, with long-time coach Stephen Fleming departing and Zaheer Khan taking over as his successor.Dhoni’s role in the revamped set-up remains uncertain. Whether he returns to the field as a player or takes on a role away from it will depend on his fitness assessment and the decision he makes before December.