Chennai Super Kings are likely to be without Ayush Mhatre for a few matches after the young batter suffered a hamstring injury during their encounter with Sunrisers Hyderabad. The 18-year-old is expected to undergo medical scans on Monday, April 20, to gauge the severity of the problem and decide how soon he can return to action.
Mhatre’s injury timeline and what it means for CSK
- During the match versus SRH, Mhatre batted at No. 3 and appeared to be settling well.
- While going for a quick second run, he was seen grabbing his left hamstring.
- He needed treatment on the field on a couple of occasions before finally getting out.
- As he made his way back, Ramakrishna Ghosh and CSK’s physio Tommy Simsek assisted him off the field.
- After the game, batting coach Michael Hussey indicated the injury looks serious, noting that scans would be carried out the next day or soon after to confirm the extent.
Hussey also stressed that the setback is a significant blow to the team, adding that Mhatre has been in strong form and that his absence will open the door for another player to seize the opportunity. “Obviously it is a hamstring tear. I don’t know how bad it is,” Hussey said. “They will scan him tomorrow, or the next day I’m not sure. But yeah, looks pretty bad unfortunately. He’s going to be a big loss, because he’s been in really nice touch for us.” He further noted that while it’s disappointing, it creates a chance for other talented players within the squad.
CSK’s next assignment is against Mumbai Indians on April 23 at the Wankhede Stadium.
CSK’s squad planning: Khaleel’s absence and trial updates
In parallel with Mhatre’s fitness concern, CSK are also searching for cover following the tournament exit of Khaleel Ahmed, who was ruled out due to a right quadriceps injury.
Akash Madhwal, a former Mumbai Indians pacer, has attended CSK trials in Hyderabad. In addition, it has been reported that Rajvardhan Hangargekar will take part in a trial with the CSK set-up in Mumbai.
The CSK squad has already moved to Mumbai ahead of their upcoming match, and MS Dhoni is present with the team. However, there remains uncertainty around Dhoni’s comeback since he has missed all of CSK’s IPL 2026 games so far while recovering from a calf strain.
When asked about Dhoni’s potential return, Hussey said he is not certain, but described the rehab progress positively. “Not really, I’m not sure,” he said. “He’s progressing nicely with his rehab, and I’m happy with how he’s batting.”
Hussey added that the key factor will be Dhoni’s ability to run efficiently if he bats later in the innings. “It’s just about progressing with his running, because if he’s going to bat towards the back end of the innings, he’ll need to be able to run quick singles and twos. He just needs to build confidence in his running and improve his speed. I don’t know when he’ll play, but I’m hoping it’s sooner rather than later, like all the fans.”
