Dhoni out of the team due to injury. Chennai fans got a big shock before IPL 2026, what did CSK say?

By Samira Vishwas On Mar 28, 2026

MS Dhoni Ruled Out from IPL: Five-time champion Chennai Super Kings has suffered a major setback before the start of IPL 2026. The team informed on Saturday, March 28 that former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will not be able to participate in the first two weeks of the tournament. Dhoni is suffering from calf strain and is currently going through the rehab process. His absence can become a challenge for the team in the initial matches.

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 TATA IPL 2026.
Get well soon, Thala! 💛🦁 pic.twitter.com/4dgmt5EWFi
—Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 28, 2026

The franchise officially confirmed this on Saturday. Chennai Super Kings will now begin their campaign against Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Monday evening. CSK also shared an emotional message on social media regarding Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s injury. The team wrote, “Get well soon, Thala.” Dhoni’s absence can be a big challenge for the team in the initial matches, because his experience and leadership have always been important for the team.

Sanju Samson will do wicketkeeping

Dhoni’s injury has come as a big shock to the fans. In his absence, Chennai Super Kings will face the challenge of maintaining balance. In such a situation, the team can hand over the responsibility of wicketkeeping to Sanju Samson, who was included in the team through trade before the IPL 2026 auction last December. For this, CSK had added Samson by giving Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals.

Dhoni is seen only in IPL

Let us tell you that after retiring from international cricket in August 2020, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is seen playing only in IPL. Last season, he played all 14 matches for Chennai Super Kings, scoring 196 runs at an average of 24.50 and strike rate of 135.17.

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Last year, the team suffered another big blow when captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was out of the tournament due to elbow fracture. In such a situation, Dhoni once again took the responsibility of the team by assuming the captaincy.