IPL 2026: MS Dhoni to play vs Mumbai Indians! This player set to drop

Will MS Dhoni play at least one match in the ongoing IPL 2026? Doubts are growing as there are no clear statements from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which only encourages netizens to keep speculating about the former skipper’s chances of playing this season. 

With three wins from the last five matches, the team has gained some momentum in the title race. The issue is a lack of consistency. Without some individual brilliance, the team looked vulnerable in their previous games.

Will MS Dhoni play in IPL 2026?

After the setback in the last season, the team management brought in multiple young stars, uncapped cricketers. Making the situation worse, one of their top guns, Ayush Mhatre, has been ruled out of the remainder of the IPL 2026 season. Khaleel Ahmed has also been ruled out because of injury. Multiple injuries not only caused the team's strength, but also harmed the team's balance.

As of now, the fate of the team seems mostly dependent on Sanju Samson. The star keeper batter has already struck a couple of centuries in this season with the Chennai Super Kings. Captain Rututaj Gaikwad also got a half-century in their previous match.

Read More: Watch: Sanju Samson’s lightning stumping of Shubman Gill reminds fans of MS Dhoni in IPL 2026

The problem lies in the middle-order. They need someone who can step in from the middle order to stabilize their innings. Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, and Sarfaraz Khan are not at their best so far. Dewald Brevis is also there, but he is not among those batters who can take the innings to deep.

Fleming drops another injury bomb

In such a scenario, when the team’s play-off ambitions are on the verge of elimination, fans could rely on only one name, MS Dhoni. But will Dhoni be able to play in this season?

What the head coach Stephen Felming said would not make the fans happy. The CSK head coach informed that the veteran keeper-batter had injured himself again, for the second time.

“He's pretty keen. The calf is a tough one, though. If he takes off and rips it again, then he will be gone. We pushed it early, and in the warm-up game, he tweaked it again, it's my understanding. Since then, he has just been working hard to get some movement into it, but there was a setback, so it has taken longer than we thought,” the head coach informed.

“He is the guide on this one, and he's working hard with the physio and doing all the rehab, and we're just waiting for the word. All I can say is stop making light of it, as he is progressing and doing everything he can,” he added.

Who will drop?

Contradictory reports are also there in the internet. A few have claimed that the 44-year-old is back in the nets, doing all batting and keeping drills, and looks fit. As per the claims, there are some chances to see him on May 2, when the Chennai Super Kings will be up against their arch rivals Mumbai Indians.

It is further claimed that Dhoni could join the playing combination in place of the youngtstar Kartik Sharma.