CSK suffer massive blow: Injured MS Dhoni set to miss early IPL 2026

We are finally ready for the IPL 2026, as the tournament opener is set to go on Saturday evening (March 28) with the match between RCB and SRH at Bengaluru. However, before the tournament opener, the joint successful title record holders five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have come up with some bad news, as the former captain MS Dhoni is injured and set to miss the early part of the new season. 

CSK, who won their last IPL title in the 2023 edition and failed to reach the playoffs in the last two seasons, will play their first game of the IPL 2026 on Monday (August 30). It will be the third game of the tournament, where the inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals (RR) will host them. 

Before their season opener, CSK management confirmed that MS Dhoni is injured as the former CSK captain and wicketkeeper-batter is undergoing a rehabilitation period for a calf strain. It means that Dhoni won't be available for their tournament opener; in fact, he is set to miss at least some early games of the season. 

See Also: CSK honours Rahul Dravid with special gesture ahead of IPL 2026

When can MS Dhoni be available for IPL 2026?

CSK's official statement also claimed that Dhoni is likely to miss the first two weeks of the IPL 2026. So, the former three ICC trophy-winning Indian captain Dhoni will miss at least the first four CSK matches of the 19th edition of the tournament. 

How did fans react to MS Dhoni's latest injury news?

It is big heartbreaking news for the CSK fans, who passionately love their seven-time winning captain (five IPL trophies and two Champions League T20 titles). Some even feel strange, as they are expecting Dhoni's retirement from the game in this IPL season. In support of their point, they have highlighted the addition of Sanju Samson to the squad, the former Rajasthan Royals captain and reliable wicketkeeper-batter.