Chennai Super Kings will be without their magnanimous former captain MS Dhoni in the first match of the IPL 2026 season. Dhoni has picked up a calf injury in pre-season and will officially miss the first two
weeks of CSK’s campaign, while reports suggest that the timeline could extend to the entire first half of IPL 2026.
“MS Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain. As a result, he is likely to miss the first two weeks of TATA IPL 2026,” CSK posted on X on Saturday morning.
It’s a bitter-sweet news for CSK. While Dhoni’s importance purely as a figurehead to the team could not be overstated, his powers have been waning with the bat. The Impact Player rule and the changed law to allow retired players to be considered as ‘uncapped’ have allowed CSK to stick with him, but it’s high time that they start planning for life without him.
Steps have already been taken for it, with CSK trading in Rajasthan Royals (RR)’s immensely popular, in-form, and peak-aged Sanju Samson. Dhoni taking the field in only a few games this season before a probable retirement next season would be like a soft break to the emotional thread that connects the legend with his fans, which would be much better than a shock departure.
When was the last time Dhoni missed a match for CSK?
Prior to this injury, the last time Dhoni missed an IPL match for CSK was on April 26, 2019, against the Mumbai Indians due to a fever.
Other injuries for CSK
Dhoni’s absence is not the only case of bother for CSK at the start of the campaign. South African middle-order star, Dewald Brevis, who came as a breath of fresh air to CSK’s campaign last year, is also recovering from a reported side strain and will miss today’s match.
Australian fast-bowler Nathan Ellis has already been ruled out of CSK’s campaign. His replacement, compatriot and left-arm quick Spencer Johnson, is also not fully fit for the first half of the season.
CSK’s playing 11 without MS Dhoni
CSK named youngster Kartik Sharma as the gloveman for the team on his IPL debut. He’s a Rajasthan local reprsenting the Chennai-based franchise against his home team.
Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma (wk), Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed
