Amid the T20 World Cup 2026, discussions about IPL’s 19th season have also intensified, which, according to reports, is set to start on March 28. Many players who will be seen in this IPL season are currently playing with Team India in the shortest format World Cup, including Sanju Samson, who has now left Rajasthan Royals to join Chennai Super Kings. Before the mini-auction, CSK traded with RR to include Sanju in their team in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.

Chennai Super Kings have begun their camp for IPL 2026, and most of their key players have joined the team, including captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, and Ayush Mhatre. CSK players are following Team India's World Cup campaign amid their preparations, and after India's victory against the West Indies, they were seen praising teammate Sanju Samson's innings. The Chennai team shared a video of this on social media.

See Also: Watch: MS Dhoni’s viral dance steals the show during CSK net practice ahead of IPL 2026

In the Super-8 match played against the West Indies at Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata, Sanju Samson played an amazing innings and scored an unbeaten 97 runs off 50 balls with the help of 12 fours and four sixes, leading his team to a brilliant victory and also helping them secure a semi-final spot. While chasing a target of 196, most of India's key batters disappointed, and none could play a big innings, but Sanju held the fort till the end and took his team to the finish line.

CSK players praise teammate Sanju Samson for match-winning knock against West Indies 

On Sunday, March 2, Chennai Super Kings shared a video of their training session on the social media platform X, during which players like captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Urvil Patel, Ayush Mhatre, and Prashant Veer reacted to Sanju Samson's innings and Team India's victory.

CSK captain Ruturaj said that someone like Sanju was the only one who could have led Team India to victory. Meanwhile, Urvil Patel called it a good match and expressed happiness over India's win. Young batsman Ayush Mhatre also expressed joy over Team India's victory. One of Chennai franchise's most expensive buys, uncapped Prashant Veer, said that India played very well and it was very enjoyable to watch the match, especially Sanju Bhaiya's batting. Meanwhile, Ramakrishna Ghosh described Sanju's innings as very brilliant and said that it was a special knock.

Watch Video: 

All the love to Sanju and Team India,
from our Lions! 🦁💛🇮🇳#WhistlePodu #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/wW9jbzn3JX

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 2, 2026

India secured their place in the semi-finals from Group X after defeating the West Indies. They will now face England, who topped Group Y in the Super 8s. This match will be played on March 5 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

IPL 2026 is likely to start in the last week of March. There is no official announcement yet. However, media reports say the 19th season could begin on March 28. All 10 teams have started preparing for the new season. Players of the Chennai Super Kings are also training for the tournament. Meanwhile, a video of MS Dhoni’s practice session is going viral on social media.

As the Chennai Super Kings began their training camp, all eyes were on MS Dhoni’s arrival. Fans are excited to see “Thala Magic” once again during IPL 2026.

The franchise shared a fun video on its official Instagram account. The clip is only seven seconds long. In the video, Dhoni bowls a very wide ball in the nets. He steps forward to play the shot, but then leaves it after seeing it is too wide. After that, he jumps playfully, spreads his arms, and signals for a wide ball. Fans are enjoying the video and sharing it widely online.

Watch the special video here:

Yes, Thala! That’s a wide! 🥰
Cuteness overloaded! 💛#WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/liUhdOsyiy

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 2, 2026

Also read -'Dhoni number 1 banega...'- Netizens react after 'Most Talked About Indians in July' list published

CSK Begin Preparations With Fresh Hope for IPL 2026

MS Dhoni’s IPL teammates, including Ayush Mhatre, and members of the support staff were seen laughing behind the nets during his fun moment in practice. The 44-year-old gave everyone light entertainment during the session.

Several Chennai Super Kings players have joined the training camp. These include captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Sarfaraz Khan, Ayush Mhatre, Rahul Chahar, and Mukesh Choudhary.

Players like Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, who are currently playing in the T20 World Cup 2026, will join the squad later.

Chennai Super Kings had a very poor season in 2025 and finished at the bottom of the points table. The team faced a big setback when captain Ruturaj Gaikwad suffered a season-ending injury. MS Dhoni led the side for the rest of the season, but the team could not improve their results.

IPL 2026 brings new hope for the franchise. The squad has some new players, including talented names from domestic cricket.

The new season is expected to start on March 28 and continue until May 31, 2026. The official schedule is still not announced.

MS Dhoni, one of India’s greatest cricketers, played 350 ODIs, 98 T20Is, and 90 Tests for India. Under his captaincy, India won the ICC T20 World Cup, ICC ODI World Cup, and ICC Champions Trophy. He retired from international cricket in 2020.

As per IPL rules, an Indian player who has not played international cricket for five years is treated as an uncapped player. That is why Chennai Super Kings retained Dhoni as an uncapped player for ₹4 crore for IPL 2026.

In his IPL career, Dhoni has played 278 matches, the most in league history. He has scored 5,439 runs at an average of 38.30. Under his leadership, Chennai Super Kings have won the IPL title five times.

The former Indian wicket-keeper batter, MS Dhoni, has followed his ritual of visiting the Deori Maa Temple ahead of the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), as the video went viral on social media platforms. Amidst the massive crowd, Dhoni entered the temple with high security and broke a coconut, besides taking blessings from the goddess.

MS Dhoni has overall smashed 5439 runs in 242 innings of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45, with the help of 24 half-centuries. In the previous season, he collected only 196 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 135.17, thanks to the best score of 30 runs.

See Also: Watch: ‘Keeping away my…’- Sanju Samson reacts to playing in Chennai ahead of IPL 2026

In the previous six seasons, Dhoni hasn’t crossed the 250-run mark, which is a reflection of his age factor, which was seen even in his wicket-keeping skills at times in the last edition of the competition. The Ranchi-born would hope to bring the same aggression and power to the lower order and provide value in the leadership department.

MS Dhoni takes blessings in Deori Maa Temple before IPL 2026 season

The CSK CEO, Kasi Viswanathan, spoke to NDTV that the former captain would continue to play in the upcoming season of the IPL, which was an uncertainty among a few fans, despite the wicket-keeper batter being retained ahead of this season. He led the side in the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad last year.

Watch the video here: 

MS Dhoni visited the Deori Maa temple today, as he does every year ahead of the IPL season.

- It's time for IPL 2026. pic.twitter.com/QPAszZH92R

— ` (@WorshipDhoni) February 27, 2026

The batting line-up will look a bit different for this franchise in 2026. Their newly signed player, Sanju Samson, is expected to open the batting with Ayush Mhatre, while their captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, could drop himself down at three to face the spinners, along with Dewald Brevis.

Shivam Dube will continue to be the hitter with power against spin in the middle order. However, they will be without their veteran spin all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, and the eyes will be on the young players to stand up and put their name ahead in the eleven. The IPL 2026 is expected to begin on March 26, 2026.

When India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, confirmed that Sanju Samson would be part of the playing XI for their second Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, there was a massive roar from the crowd, and the same picture would take place a few weeks later when he would take the field for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2026.

Sanju Samson smacked the very second ball of the opening over against Richard Ngarva over the straight boundary for a six before cutting the pacer in the third-man region for a streaky boundary. His innings didn’t go well as the Kerala batter returned to the pavilion for 24 runs in 15 balls with the help of two sixes and one boundary.

See Also: Watch: Rare Scene! Ball hits stumps but bails refuse to fall in Ranji Trophy 2025/26 J&K vs KAR Final

“Yeah, very much (looking forward to it). I think, I have been, I think, very excited, but I have tried to keep the excitement away. I think this is more important now, even though I really value that moment. But this time, I think I need to be here and remain totally committed.” Samson said in a video after the game.

Sanju Samson excited to play in Chennai ahead of IPL 2026

Samson has overall smashed 4704 runs in 172 innings at an average of 30.94 and a strike rate of 139.04, with the help of three centuries and 26 half-centuries at the best score of 119 runs. In the previous season, the right-handed batter smashed 285 runs in nine innings at an average of 35.62 and a strike rate of 140.39, scoring one fifty.

Watch the video here: 

Sanju Samson just kept it simple to help India cruise to victory over Zimbabwe 😎 pic.twitter.com/f1WRCerYoC

— Memes Unlimited (@Memesandfunnn) February 27, 2026

Samson has been in flying colors in the shortest format. The opener has overall pocketed 8125 runs in 310 innings of the T20s at an average of 29.65 and a strike rate of 137.10, thanks to six centuries and 51 half-centuries at the best score of 119 runs.

Samson is expected to open the batting with Ayush Mhatre, with their captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, dropping him down at number three, having incredible skill against the spinners. Meanwhile, they will have Dewald Brevis in the middle order.

Chennai Super Kings’ new spin signing, Rahul Chahar, confirmed on Friday, February 20, that he has divorced his wife, Ishani Johar. He shared a detailed post on social media to announce the end of their marriage after more than three and a half years.

The couple got married in Goa on March 9, 2022. In his statement, the 26-year-old cricketer said that the legal process has now been completed and the matter has been settled. He described this period as an important and life-changing phase for him.

After the news became public, Rahul Chahar posted a short message on Instagram. He wrote, “Calm, clean, and unbothered.” The caption was shared with a simple photo and showed that he is staying strong and positive as he moves ahead in life.

The divorce was officially finalized in court after 15 months of legal proceedings. The announcement came just before the IPL 2026 season. Many fans were waiting to see how the CSK spinner would react publicly.

His short but powerful message, “Calm, clean, and unbothered,” connected with many followers. Fans saw it as a sign of strength, acceptance, and confidence during a difficult time in his personal life.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rahul Chahar (@rdchahar1)

Also read -3 Records that could be broken in the India vs South Africa Super 8 match at Ahmedabad in the T20 World Cup 2026

Fans Back Rahul Chahar Ahead of IPL 2026

Cricket fans have shown strong support for Rahul Chahar after his recent personal news. Many have praised his professional attitude and wished him success for the upcoming IPL season with the Chennai Super Kings. As a skilled leg-spinner, Chahar is respected in Indian cricket, and fans hope he stays focused and performs well on the field.

With the IPL season coming soon, his calm message shows that he is ready to move forward with clarity and focus. It also reminds people that sportspersons manage personal challenges while continuing their professional careers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rahul Chahar (@rdchahar1)

IPL Journey and Career Record

Chahar will play for Chennai Super Kings after being bought for Rs 5.20 crore in the IPL 2026 mini-auction. He was first unsold but later picked in the accelerated round. He was released by Sunrisers Hyderabad before the auction.

In his IPL career, Chahar has played for Rising Pune Supergiant, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad. In 79 IPL matches, he has taken 75 wickets with an average of 28.66.

At the international level, Chahar has played 1 ODI and 6 T20 Internationals for India. He has taken 3 wickets in ODIs at an average of 18 and 7 wickets in T20Is at an average of 23.85. He last represented India during the 2021 T20 World Cup.

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has shared a special video on their first signed player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), MS Dhoni, who came as their local player in the 2008 season of the tournament. The rest has been history as they went on to win five titles, with the first one coming in 2010.

MS Dhoni has created several memories for the Super Kings franchise. With the bat, he has smashed 5439 runs in 242 innings at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45 with the help of 24 half-centuries and the best score of unbeaten 84 runs. The right-handed batter has nailed overall 375 boundaries and 264 over boundaries in the process, which has been a fabulous landmark.

See Also: Watch: Abhishek Sharma’s preparation talk ahead of IND vs SA T20 WC 2026 Super 8 clash goes viral

Dhoni’s best season with the bat came in 2018 when he drilled 455 runs in 15 innings at an average of 75.83 and a strike rate of more than 150 as they went on to claim the title. The wicket-keeper batter celebrated three half-centuries in that edition at the best score of unbeaten 79 runs.

CSK releases special video on MS Dhoni’s 18 years with yellow franchise

However, the last few seasons have given a different story for Dhoni, who also handed over the leadership skills to Ruturaj Gaikwad. In 2025, he had to step up when their opener was injured and later got ruled out of the campaign due to a wrist injury. Dhoni ended up with 196 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 135.17 with the help of an undefeated 30 runs.

Watch the video here: 

Once upon a time in Chennai, a lion arrived! 🦁🔥
The rest became his story!#WhistlePodu #OnThisDay pic.twitter.com/qb8VSGd11D

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) February 20, 2026

The last time he crossed the 250-run mark in a season of the IPL was way back in 2019, when he slammed 416 runs in 12 innings at an average of 83.20 and a strike rate of 134.62 with the help of three half-centuries.

However, Dhoni, as many predicted, could retire from the league after the 2026 season of the tournament. The wicket-keeper batter hinted the same last year when they finished at the bottom of the points table.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is just a few weeks away as teams have already set up their camps at various venues to prepare for the event, which is set to run for a couple of months. Ahead of the IPL 2027, there has been some injury news that has given a massive blow to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) camp.

Karthik Sharma, who has been a flamboyant wicket-keeper batter from Rajasthan, will be representing the five-time champions and has picked up an injury while playing in a local tournament. He was seen walking off the field with support while he was batting on 39 in 14 balls as the incident occurred before the 8.4 over of the match.

See Also: ‘Techers lie less…’- Mohammad Salahuddin calls ex-sports advisor liar over T20 World Cup 2026 boycott stance

Karthik has smashed 334 runs in 11 innings of the shortest format at an average of 30.36 and a strike rate of 162.92, with the help of two half-centuries at the best score of 58 runs. In the last five games of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025/26, he didn’t get a single fifty but had two scores of over 35.

Know Karthik Sharma’s injury update ahead of IPL 2026

After nailing three boundaries in the first three deliveries of Vipraj Nigam, Karthik lay down inside the ground and had some issues with his back as the physio came running in. The injury has not been confirmed yet, whether it’s a minor one or he retired on his own to give other batters a chance.

Karthik’s physio, through the social media platforms, has revealed that the player has a mid-spasm, which has already been taken care of, and there is nothing to worry about. He will be a vital player for the Super Kings, who invested a lot of money in that youngster.

CSK will be under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, and it could be the last season of their former captain and the wicket-keeper batter, MS Dhoni. They will also be without Ravindra Jadeja, the veteran spin all-rounder, after nearly one and a half decades.

The trend of high-profile separations in Indian cricket has continued over the past two years. In 2024, Hardik Pandya confirmed his divorce, and later, Yuzvendra Chahal also went through a difficult phase in his personal life that led to the end of his marriage. Now, Indian leg-spinner Rahul Chahar has announced his separation from his wife, Ishani Johar. The couple was set to complete four years of marriage on March 9 next month; however, they have chosen to part ways amicably through mutual consent.

On Friday (February 20th), 26-year-old Rahul Chahar surprised everyone by announcing the end of his marriage. He shared this information on social media. He stated that he was closing this chapter of his life after 15 months of struggle. While the bowler didn't reveal the real reason for his marriage's end, he did mention that he married at a very young age and didn't understand the true meaning of his life at the time.

See Also: 26-Year-old CSK star announces divorce amid T20 World Cup 2026

The manner in which Rahul Chahar and Ishani Johar’s marriage came to an end was unexpected for many, considering the length and depth of their relationship. The couple had been together for several years before getting married in 2022. However, their paths have now diverged. As public interest grows around Rahul’s former wife, here are some key details about Ishani.

Who is Ishani Johar?

According to information available in media reports, Ishani Johar was born in 1999 in Bengaluru and is a professional fashion designer. She completed most of her schooling in Jaipur and Delhi before earning her degree from the University of Rajasthan. Currently based in Bengaluru, Ishani is actively working in the fashion industry and has established herself with notable professional achievements.

Rahul Chahar entered Ishani Johar's life through common friends. They developed a strong friendship, which later blossomed into love. Ishani and Rahul dated for several years and then took their relationship a step further by getting engaged in 2019. Afterward, in 2022, Ishani and Rahul decided to be together in a lavish destination wedding. However, their marriage has now suddenly ended.

Check out pictures of Ishani Johar

Rahul Chahar is gearing up to represent CSK in IPL 2026

In IPL 2026, Rahul Chahar will represent five-time champions Chennai Super Kings. He was previously part of Sunrisers Hyderabad last season but was released ahead of the mini-auction. Subsequently, Chennai Super Kings secured his services for ₹5.20 crore.

Rahul has already begun his preparations for the upcoming IPL season and recently shared training videos alongside his cousin, Deepak Chahar. Notably, Deepak was retained by Mumbai Indians, a franchise Rahul himself represented for three seasons earlier in his career.

The cricket world is abuzz with the T20 World Cup 2026, followed by the 19th season of the IPL. This time, several players are set to feature in new teams, including leg-spinner Rahul Chahar, who was bought by Chennai Super Kings in the mini auction. However, the bowler has taken a major step in his personal life and announced his divorce from his wife, Ishani Johar. Rahul and Ishani got married in 2022, and their fourth anniversary was on March 9, but they decided to part ways by mutual consent before that.

Rahul Chahar, who has played 7 international matches for India, shared a long post on social media on Friday, in which he announced his divorce. Rahul mentioned that he got married at a very young age, and at that time, he had no idea what kind of life he wanted to build. Additionally, Rahul stated that the divorce process had been going on for the past 15 months, which is now complete. He is now ready for a new beginning in his life.

See Also: Watch: Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan dances with wife to ‘Dhurandhar’ movie song amid T20 World Cup 2026

26-year-old Rahul Chahar wrote in a note shared on an Instagram post,

"I entered marriage at a young age, before I fully understood myself, my worth, or the life I truly wanted to build. What followed were years of lessons I never expected, and the last fifteen months spent navigating courtrooms, learning patience, resilience, and the strength that some from in truth."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rahul Chahar (@rdchahar1)

Rahul Chahar expressed the struggle of the past 15 months

The decision to divorce is never easy for anyone. Many times, even without any fault, one has to pay the price and face numerous difficulties to proceed with a divorce. Rahul also expressed the pain of his 15-month-long struggle. He wrote,

"Today, that chapter of my life formally comes to a close. After due legal process, the matter has been settled with my resolution that costed a lot, bringing finality to this phase of my life. I close this chapter not with anger or regret, but with clarity. Some relationships are not meant to last forever they are meant to awaken us, teach us, and transform us."

Rahul Chahar has not called his divorce an ending and has said that he is ready for a fresh start, leaving everything behind. He further wrote:

"I move forward wiser, more self-aware, and certain of the life I deserve to build. This is not an ending. It is a release. A reset. A promise that everything I create from here will stand on self-respect, peace, and better choices. I carry forward no bitterness-only lessons, dignity, and the courage to begin again."

The excitement for the T20 World Cup 2026 is currently ongoing in India, with the Indian Team also performing well. Under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian team has won all four matches in the group stage, securing a place in the Super-8. This round is set to begin on February 21, and India's first match is on Sunday against South Africa in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, the countdown for the next season of the world's biggest T20 league, the IPL, is also underway, which is scheduled to be held between March and May. A major update has now come regarding its full schedule.

Recently, a report by Dainik Jagran revealed a potential list of venues for IPL 2026. It was also mentioned that the 19th season of the IPL could start on March 26, with the final match expected to be held on May 31. However, that report did not provide any updates regarding the full schedule of the upcoming IPL season. Meanwhile, there are reports that its announcement could be made next week.

See Also: Watch: Star Rajasthan Royals batter hits massive no-look sixes in nets before IPL 2026

There is a lot of discussion on social media regarding the announcement of the full schedule for IPL 2026. Fans are continuously tweeting about it on X, as everyone wants to know when and where their favorite team will play. If the league's upcoming season possibly starts in March, then the full schedule could be released next week or soon after, so that all preparations can be made in time.

IPL 2026 to begin on March 26 with the final scheduled to be held on May 31 ✅

-Full IPL 2026 Schedule likely to be released by next week ✅#ipl2026 pic.twitter.com/V8ARil3aBu

— Chennai (@memeschennai) February 20, 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Play Home Matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium

  Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who had failed to win a title in the first 17 IPL seasons, made history in the 18th season by winning the title for the first time. The victory was celebrated on a grand scale. During the festivities on June 4 at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, a large number of fans attended. Unfortunately, a stampede occurred outside the stadium, resulting in the loss of 11 lives and injuries to more than 50 others. 

  Following this incident, large matches were banned at Chinnaswamy Stadium, leading the city to lose hosting rights for the Women's One Day World Cup 2025 matches. As a result, there was uncertainty about RCB's home venue. However, this uncertainty was recently resolved when the Karnataka government granted permission to the Bangalore franchise to host matches under certain conditions.