Blow to CSK! MS Dhoni set to miss first two weeks of IPL 2026 due to calf strain

MS Dhoni just plays in the IPL right now, having retired from all other formats of the game in 2019.

In what has come as a massive blow, reports suggest that MS Dhoni is set to miss the first two weeks of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. On the day of the curtain-raiser, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) issued a statement that the former captain is currently undergoing rehabilitation for the calf. Dhoni is recovering from a calf strain. In all fairness, Dhoni is all but set to miss at least the first IPL 2026 game for CSK, which will be against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati on March 30.

Huge blow to CSK fans as Dhoni misses 15 days of IPL

A large section of fans wait for the IPL just so they can watch their favourite icon, MS Dhoni, in action. After retiring from international cricket in 2019, Dhoni’s only cricketing action comes in the IPL. Being synonymous with CSK, Dhoni is currently playing as an uncapped player.

Dhoni’s been asked time and again if his current season will be his last, and he’s always bounced back with a ‘definitely not’ or a ‘we’ll see’. At 44, he’s playing just so his fans feel happy, despite the fact that his on-field performances haven’t been the same for a while now.

Dhoni’s knee problem is a well-documented issue that has hindered his performances. The most-capped player in the IPL history (278 matches) is now only limited to facing the last 3-4 overs of an innings. Right after lifting the IPL 2023 trophy, Dhoni went under the knife for “keyhole” surgery on his left knee in Mumbai. Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala performed the procedure, which was needed as Dhoni had played the whole season with intense pain and heavy strapping.

Due to this, he even batted as low as No. 8 and No. 9 at IPL 2024 and IPL 2025. Last year, he even led the side in the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was ruled out mid-season due to a finger injury. Now, Gaikwad was set to lead Dhoni once again but the most successful captain might not be seen in the first two weeks.

Perhaps the limping video of Dhoni wasn’t so casual. In all likelihood, Dhoni is set to take around 15 days to recover fully from the calf strain. Due to this, he may miss the first five IPL 2026 games for CSK. After travelling to Guwahati, CSK host PBKS on April 3. Then, the high-octane clash against RCB in Bengaluru follows. The last two games that the CSK enigma might miss could be two home games against DC and KKR on April 11 and 14.

In Dhoni’s absence, CSK are likely to slot in youngster Karthik Sharma as a finisher. After all, the five-time champions spent INR 14.20 crore on the hard-hitting dasher, who hit the most sixes (26) at 2024–25 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He maintained a strike rate of over 160 in the recent SMAT. Meanwhile, Samson will most definitely keep wickets for CSK in Dhoni’s unavailability.

CSK full schedule for IPL 2026

CSK squad for IPL 2026

Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), MS Dhoni (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Urvil Patel (WK), Anshul Kamboj, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Spencer Johnson, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Matthew Short