Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend MS Dhoni has openly accepted Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) impressive rise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) while admitting that his own team has struggled in recent seasons. MS Dhoni believes that RCB have performed much better over the last two years, while CSK needs to improve their game to return to their winning ways.

The former Indian captain shared his views at a healthcare event in Bengaluru, where he also expressed hope for a stronger campaign for CSK in IPL 2027. Notably, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter missed the entire IPL 2026 season due to fitness issues. Earlier, MS Dhoni to decide on IPL 2027 future before December, CSK legend reveals plans.

CSK's downfall and RCB's rise in IPL

The five-time IPL champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), have been struggling badly since winning the title in 2023, including a last-place finish in 2025. In IPL 2026, CSK finished eighth after showing promising performances in some matches but failing to maintain consistency.

On the other hand, RCB has enjoyed a remarkable rise in the IPL. Apart from missing the playoffs in 2023, they have regularly reached the knockout stage and won back-to-back IPL titles in 2025 and 2026 under captain Rajat Patidar. Their strong performances across batting, bowling, and fielding have made them one of the most successful teams in recent seasons.

MS Dhoni breaks silence on RCB's dominance and CSK's recent downfall

And MS Dhoni accepted that RCB has been the better-performing team in the last two years. He explained that a team's reputation and strength on paper do not matter much in T20 cricket, where the difference between the best teams is often very small.

Dhoni was quoted as saying by ANI, "I always felt you know how good you are on paper hardly matters. How good you are on that particular day is something that is the most important. And the shorter the format, the narrower the margin between the best of teams. And for the last 2 years, we have struggled, and it is a fact. You know, there is no point shying away from the fact that RCB has done really, really well.”

Real test of character: MS Dhoni's powerful message after CSK's struggles

The CSK legend also admitted that CSK has struggled over the past two seasons, while RCB has delivered consistent performances. He believes that winning and losing are both parts of the game, but a team's real character is tested when it goes through a difficult period.

Dhoni further shared, “That is how life is. You have good times, and you have bad times, but you know how to come out of it. What things you want to work on as a team are crucial things. Because, you know, when we are winning, we know that there will come a point when we will start losing, and the real test of character is when you're not doing well. So, RCB has consistently performed in the last couple of years, and we have not done that in the last couple of years.”

Dhoni hopes CSK will bounce back in IPL 2027

The former Chennai Super Kings captain also highlighted the importance of learning from difficult times and working on the areas that need improvement. He believes that teams must understand their weaknesses and find ways to overcome them instead of focusing only on past success.

Dhoni is now hoping that injuries will not create problems for the franchise next season. He wants the players to remain fit and available throughout IPL 2027, as having the best players ready for every match can make a major difference to the team's performance. Amid this, Irfan Pathan officially joins Afghanistan Premier League team.

MS Dhoni promises entertaining CSK vs RCB battle in IPL 2027

The legendary cricketer also stressed the importance of players understanding their roles and responsibilities. He expressed hope that CSK would produce another exciting contest when they next face RCB in Bengaluru. Dhoni wants the team to improve enough to make their next meeting a close and entertaining encounter for the fans.

MS Dhoni added, “Because at the end of the day, we are entertainers, you know; we come over here and entertain. And another reason why we as batsmen, why all the batsmen love Bangalore, is, you know, the ball travels over. You know, this is one venue; if you hit the ball, you know, it goes for a six. Even if you are strong, you mistime a ball; there are chances it may go for a six.”