MS Dhoni ruled out of first two weeks of IPL 2026 in major blow to CSK

Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings suffered a setback just before the start of the IPL 2026 season after their talisman MS Dhoni was ruled out of the first two weeks of the campaign due to injury.

"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. Get well soon, Thala," CSK shared on social media on Saturday.

CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has occasionally donned the gloves in the past, but Sanju Samson, a new acquisition and fresh off his heroics at the T20 World Cup, will be one of the frontrunners to take up Dhoni’s spot behind the wickets.

Urvil Patel and Kartik Sharma are the other wicketkeeping options in the CSK squad.

One of just four players to feature in all editions of the Indian Premier League ever since the inception of the league in 2008, the 44-year-old MS Dhoni is one of the most recognisable faces in the popular franchise-based T20 cricket league.

Barring the two seasons between 2016 and 2017, when he turned out for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant during CSK’s two-year suspension from the league, Dhoni has spent his entire IPL career with the Super Kings.

He is the joint-most successful captain in IPL history with five title triumphs alongside Rohit Sharma.

Dhoni also boasts the record for most matches in IPL history with 278 appearances and is the sixth-highest run-scorer in the league having amassed 5439 at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45.

The star wicketkeeper-batter has also hit 24 fifties in his IPL career, with his best score of an unbeaten 84 coming in 2019 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Chennai Super Kings will start their IPL 2026 campaign against Rajasthan Royals at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Monday.

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