Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni has sustained a calf strain and has been ruled out of the first two weeks of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, the franchise said in a statement.
The 19th edition of the tournament is set to begin on Saturday, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the curtain-raiser at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
CSK are set to play their campaign opener on Monday against inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals. However, Dhoni, who has led the franchise to five titles — the joint-most in the league — will miss the initial matches and sit out for the first two weeks.
“MS Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain. As a result, he is likely to miss the first two weeks of IPL 2026,” the franchise said in a statement on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, the franchise shared a video of the team’s practice match — a match simulation — at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, where Dhoni batted and Sanju Samson kept wickets. The 44-year-old unleashed several impressive shots, sending the ball over the boundary on multiple occasions.
With the veteran sidelined, Samson is likely to take over wicketkeeping duties for CSK in the opening games as they aim for a record sixth IPL title. Samson, previously the captain of RR, was traded to CSK, while the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side traded out all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.
While the English all-rounder has been ruled out of IPL 2026 due to injury, it will be interesting to see Samson and Jadeja face their former franchises on Monday when RR take on CSK at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.
-IANS
