Chennai Super Kings (CSK) talisman MS Dhoni won’t be seen in action in the first few Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 matches for the five-time champions, the franchise confirmed on Saturday. According to the official statement, the former India and CSK captain is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain and, hence, his participation in the initial few games for the franchise is not certain. The crucial update came two days before CSK’s first IPL 2026 match against the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on Monday.
With Dhoni all but ruled out, Sanju Samson is all set to don the gloves for the franchise. CSK has not provided a timeline for how long it will take the 44-year-old to fully recover and return to the field.
“Official Statement. MS Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain. As a result, he is likely to miss the first two weeks of the TATA IPL 2026. Get well soon, Thala,” CSK wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
After opening their IPL 2026 campaign against Rajasthan on Monday, CSK are slated to take the field against Punjab Kings (April 3), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (April 5) and Delhi Capitals (April 11). Even if Dhoni recovers in the next two weeks, the wicketkeeper-batter is all set to miss the first four matches for the franchise in the 19th edition of the tournament.
Ahead of the IPL 2026, which gets underway on March 28, all the chatter has been about Dhoni’s future in the tournament and whether the latest edition would be his last as a player. Dhoni is only the fourth player to feature in all 19 seasons of the tournament, alongside Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Manish Pandey.
Ever since Samson was roped in by CSK through a trade with Rajasthan, speculation has risen about Dhoni’s future, with many feeling that the five-time champions have managed to secure a worthy successor.
Will Dhoni play as an impact sub?
The 2011 World Cup-winning captain, Dhoni, has also been urged not to play as an impact sub, saying his utility lies in helping Ruturaj Gaikwad. In the IPL 2025 season, Dhoni’s batting position was scrutinised left, right and centre, with the right-handed batter as low as No.8 in some matches.
Last season, Dhoni featured in all 14 matches for the Super Kings, scoring 196 runs at an average of 24.50 and a 135.17 strike rate. Dhoni also took over the captaincy reins midway through the season after Gaikwad got ruled out due to a hairline fracture.
For the first time in 18 years, CSK finished last in the wooden spoon. If Dhoni takes the field in the IPL 2026 season, he would become the oldest Indian to ever feature in the league, surpassing Praveen Tambe.
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