Is MS Dhoni playing IPL 2026? The answer is no, at least for the start of the tournament. Dhoni is sidelined due to a calf strain, making him unavailable for the first two weeks of the season.
This injury marks a significant moment for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), as they played their recent match against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) without both Dhoni and Suresh Raina. This was the first time in 277 games that CSK took the field without their iconic duo.
In the match against RR, CSK struggled, collapsing to just 127 runs in 19.4 overs. The absence of Dhoni was felt more as a stabilizing presence rather than a guaranteed batting fix. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from RR scored an impressive 52 runs off just 17 balls, highlighting CSK’s struggles.
Dhoni, who has played 278 matches in the IPL and scored 5,439 runs at an average of 38.30, last missed an IPL match in 2019. His leadership and experience have been crucial for CSK, especially after the team finished in 10th position in the IPL 2025 points table.
With Suresh Raina announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket in September 2022, CSK’s lineup has faced significant changes. The team has now played five matches without Dhoni and four without Raina, marking a new era for the franchise.
As the IPL 2026 season unfolds, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how CSK copes without their legendary captain. The team’s performance in the coming weeks will be critical as they navigate this challenging period.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding Dhoni’s return, but his absence is a major talking point as the season progresses.
