IPL 2026 Loses MS Dhoni For Opening Weeks As CSK Star Suffers Calf Strain

MS Dhoni’s injury makes him the second CSK player sidelined for IPL 2026, following Nathan Ellis’s tournament-ending hamstring injury.

IPL 2026 Loses MS Dhoni For Opening Weeks As CSK Star Suffers Calf Strain

MS Dhoni will likely by out of action for the opening weeks of IPL 2026 due to a calf strain. (via India Today)

In Short
  • MS Dhoni will miss the opening weeks of IPL 2026 due to a calf strain.
  • Chennai Super Kings confirmed Dhoni's absence for at least four matches.
  • Sanju Samson is expected to take over wicket-keeping duties in Dhoni's absence.

Chennai Super Kings have been dealt a blow, after an official announcement stated that MS Dhoni is expected to miss the opening weeks of IPL 2026. The CSK talisman is currently recovering from a calf strain, an injury he possibly sustained during training.

It is quite a surprise that MS Dhoni continues to play in the IPL, despite being well into his 40s. The former Team India captain, known for his calm demeanor and astute leadership, continues to be a pillar for Chennai Super Kings, a franchise he has represented since the inaugural 2008 season.

He has scored 5,439 runs in 278 matches at an average of 38.30, while recording over 200 dismissals as a keeper. For the legendary wicket-keeper batter, the 2026 IPL season was all the more important. Dhoni is the last of the ‘old guard’ remaining in the current CSK squad, after the franchise parted ways with long-time veteran Ravindra Jadeja.

Midway through the 2025 season, Dhoni was forced to take over the captaincy role briefly after Ruturaj Gaikwad suffered a season-ending injury, while he also saw the Super Kings finish at the bottom of the IPL table for the first time in history. 

However, the franchise, through a social media post earlier today, confirmed that they will be without the services of Dhoni for the first two weeks of the 2026 Indian Premier League season. The 44-year-old legend has been ruled out due to a calf strain, which he is currently recovering from, while being a part of the team camp. As a result of this injury recovery, he is expected to miss at least four matches.

MSD is likely to be out of CSK’s opener against RR in Guwahati, to be played on March 30, followed by matches against PBKS (April 3), RCB (April 5), and DC (April 11). The recent years have been a physical battle for the Ranchi-born wicket-keeper batter, struggling with persistent knee and back issues. The former Indian captain even required knee surgery after guiding CSK to the 2023 IPL championship.

Dhoni’s unavailability will certainly challenge the depth of the Chennai squad at the start of the season. Sanju Samson is likely to take over his role behind the stumps, wth the other wicket-keeping choices being Urvil Patel and 19-year-old Kartik Sharma.

End of an era? How does the CSK’s playing XI stack up without MS Dhoni?

With MS Dhoni ruled out of action for the first two weeks of IPL 2026, Chennai Super Kings’ playing XI is expected to change drastically. Dhoni’s absence will not only be significant in terms of leadership, but it also leaves a massive void in CSK’s lower-order. 

CSK playing XI without MS Dhoni
CSK’s playing XI for the first few matches will not feature MS Dhoni. (via NDTV Sports)

It is certain that captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson will open the innings for CSK, with the latter set to take over the wicket-keeping duties for the initial matches. The team then has a plethora of options to choose from, but Ayush Mhatre remains the front-runner to bat no.3, followed by Urvil Patel or Sarfaraz Khan. South African Dewald Brevis is expected to bat at no.5, and newcomer Kartik Sharma at no.6. 

Without MS Dhoni, the responsibility to finish the innings falls upon Shivam Dube, who is expected to bat at no.7, followed by Prashant Veer at no.8. In bowling, CSK might pick three overseas players, Jamie Overton, Matt Henry and Noor Ahmad, alongside Indian pacer Khaleel Ahmed, with one of them being the Impact Substitute. Englishman Overton, however, faces stiff competition from Anshul Kamboj.

The five-time champions also have a strong bench, with domestic stars like Ramakrishna Ghosh, Aman Khan, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh, and Rahul Chahar. For the overseas spots, CSK have Matthew Short, Akeal Hosein and Zakary Foulkes in the ranks. 

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