Just hours before the IPL 2026 begins, the Chennai Super Kings get very bad news. They recently posted on their official X account that MS Dhoni will not be seen in action in the first few matches of the Indian Premier League. As per the official statement, the former India and CSK captain MS Dhoni is undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain.
This update came before the CSK’s first match of IPL 2026 against the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on Monday. In addition, CSK has not offered any specific timeline for how much time MS Dhoni will take to recover and return to the field.
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Official Statement on CSK official X handle: “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!”
As per the official statement, MS Dhoni will miss the first two weeks, and it simply means that he is going to miss four matches for the franchise in the 19th edition of the league. The four matches will be against Rajasthan Royals (March 30), Punjab Kings (April 3), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (April 5), and Delhi Capitals (April 11).
In absence of MS Dhoni, Sanju Samsun is all set to wear the gloves for Chennai Super Kings.
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MS Dhoni’s Future in the IPL
Seeing this concern, Dhoni fans are wondering about the future of Dhoni in the IPL. As they are discussing, is this his last season as a player?
In addition, he is the only fourth player who has featured in all 19 seasons of the league, along with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Manish Pandey. If he features in the 2026 season, then he will become the oldest Indian Player after Praveen Tambe to feature in IPL.
Effect of Dhoni’s Unavailability on CSK
Former World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni has been advised to play a bigger role rather than being used as an impact player, as his real value comes in guiding young players and helping Ruturaj Gaikwad in his captaincy journey.
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In 2025, Dhoni batted as low as No. 8 at various times and scored 196 runs in 14 matches. Moreover, he also stepped in as captain mid-season because of Gaikwad’s injury. In addition, it was the first time in 18 years that CSK finished last in the table.
Overall, Dhoni’s education remains vital in helping the squad and shaping Gaikwad into a strong leader.