Five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have suffered a massive blow as their legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni will miss the first two weeks of the 19th edition of the cash-rich league. Notably, Dhoni captained the franchise in the last edition of the tournament as their regular skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, was ruled out due to injury.
Why will Dhoni miss the first two weeks of IPL 2026?
Chennai Super Kings confirmed on the morning of their season opener that MS Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf injury. This means the team will likely be without their star player for the first few matches of the tournament.
"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" said CSK in a release.
Who will be CSK's wicketkeeper in Dhoni's absence?
With MS Dhoni all but ruled out for the start of IPL 2026, Sanju Samson is set to take over the wicketkeeping duties for the Chennai Super Kings. The franchise has not given a clear timeline for when the 44-year-old Dhoni will fully recover and return to the field.
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CSK's matches in first two weeks of IPL 2026
CSK start their IPL 2026 campaign against the Rajasthan Royals on March 30 in Guwahati. After that, they face the Punjab Kings on April 3, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 5, and the Delhi Capitals on April 11. Even if Dhoni recovers within the next two weeks, he is expected to miss the first four matches of the 19th edition of the tournament.
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Ahead of IPL 2026, which begins on March 28, much of the discussion has been about Dhoni’s future in the league and whether this season might be his last as a player. He is only the fourth player to feature in all 19 seasons of the IPL, alongside Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Manish Pandey.
Since CSK acquired Samson in a trade with Rajasthan, there has been growing speculation about Dhoni’s future, with many feeling that the team may have found a worthy successor in the young wicketkeeper-batter.
Will Dhoni feature as impact sub in IPL 2026?
There has also been discussion about whether Dhoni might play as an “impact sub” this season. Fans and experts have suggested that his real value lies in guiding and supporting players like Ruturaj Gaikwad rather than coming in for short bursts. Last season, Dhoni’s batting position was frequently shuffled, sometimes as low as No. 8.
MS Dhoni's performance in IPL 2025
In IPL 2025, Dhoni played all 14 matches for CSK, scoring 196 runs at an average of 24.50 with a strike rate of 135.17. He also took over the captaincy midway through the season when Gaikwad was ruled out with a hairline fracture.
For the first time in 18 years, CSK finished at the bottom of the points table. If Dhoni does take the field in IPL 2026, he will become the oldest Indian player to feature in the league, surpassing Praveen Tambe