Chennai Super Kings took a major hit on Tuesday, April 21, with the news that Ayush Mhatre will miss the rest of IPL 2026 after a hamstring problem. CSK confirmed the 18-year-old requires rehabilitation lasting between six and 12 weeks, effectively ruling him out of the tournament.
Mhatre ruled out after hamstring injury scan
The setback was triggered during CSK’s match in Hyderabad against SRH on April 18. Mhatre was seen holding his left hamstring after attempting a second run while batting. He needed treatment on the field on a couple of occasions before eventually getting out.
After leaving the field, support staff helped him off, with Ramakrishna Ghosh and the physio Tommy Simsek assisting. He then underwent scans on Monday to assess the severity of the injury and chart the recovery timeline.
CSK momentum dented as multiple fitness concerns mount
CSK’s chances are expected to take a hit because Mhatre has been their most productive batter so far. The franchise has already been forced to deal with a string of injury setbacks, and his absence adds another complication as they try to find consistency in the season.
- CSK were dealt an earlier blow when seamer Khaleel Ahmed was ruled out of IPL 2026.
- They also lost Nathan Ellis to an injury before the tournament even began.
- Dewald Brevis did not feature in the opening games.
- Veteran MS Dhoni has not been available to play yet, and a return to the XI will depend on his fitness.
Why Mhatre’s absence matters for CSK’s batting
Up to this point, Mhatre has carried a significant scoring burden for CSK, including two half-centuries. His strike rate of 177.87 underlines how quickly he has been able to put runs on the board—an impact CSK will miss directly in the batting order.
CSK’s overall campaign has also been stop-start. They lost their opening three matches, then bounced back by winning the next two, only to suffer another defeat recently in Hyderabad. With Mhatre now ruled out, the team’s task of stabilising performances becomes even tougher.
Next match: CSK face Mumbai Indians on April 23
With the squad dealing with another fitness challenge, CSK will turn their attention to their next fixture against Mumbai Indians on April 23 at the Wankhede Stadium.
