Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been dealt a major blow for the IPL 2026 season, as they will be without their legendary former captain MS Dhoni, for most of the first half of the tournament. Nearing the age of 45, Dhoni has long battled persistent knee and back issues. His latest setback is a calf strain that is expected to keep him out of action for approximately six games.
MS Dhoni to miss more action in IPL 2026
This news follows an earlier confirmation from the CSK management stating that Dhoni was actively rehabilitating from an injury and would definitely miss the start of the season. As a result of his recovery schedule, the 44-year-old veteran did not travel with the squad to Guwahati, where the five-time champions are set to kick off their campaign against the Rajasthan Royals.
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According to a recent report by the Times of India, the timeline for Dhoni's recovery has been extended. Before the official injury announcement, keen observers had spotted Dhoni limping on and off the field during practice sessions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. It was only after these sightings that the franchise revealed the extent of his physical struggles, confirming a much longer absence than fans had originally hoped.
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Impact of MS Dhoni's absence
It is a major chunk of the season that Dhoni will miss out on. His absence means he will be sidelined for several high-profile clashes, including match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, there is a silver lining for the Chennai Super Kings; the team's seventh game of the campaign is against their fierce rivals, the Mumbai Indians, at the Wankhede Stadium, and reports indicate that Dhoni should be in line to make his return for that massive fixture.
Wicketkeeping options for CSK
In the meantime, fans are wondering who will keep wickets in Dhoni's absence. Fortunately for the yellow army, CSK has a range of excellent options to choose from to don the gloves. The five-time champions secured a massive asset when they acquired Sanju Samson in a blockbuster trade with the Rajasthan Royals. Samson is in red-hot form, fresh off a stellar, title-winning campaign with India at the T20 World Cup 2026. The franchise also demonstrated its commitment to securing top-tier talent by splashing a record Rs 14.20 crore on young wicketkeeper Kartik Sharma, making the explosive domestic player from Rajasthan a highly anticipated addition to the squad. Furthermore, Gujarat's Urvil Patel, who was retained by the franchise after showcasing his incredibly destructive batting in the domestic circuit, is also firmly in the mix to feature behind the stumps.