The excitement around MS Dhoni’s potential appearance in IPL 2026 has not translated into a match-day comeback just yet. At the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Ruturaj Gaikwad emerged for the toss with Ajinkya Rahane, and supporters were clearly hoping to hear the familiar cue that Dhoni would be taking his place on the field. However, that confirmation never arrived. Dhoni, who was seen working in the nets on Monday ahead of the CSK vs KKR meeting, remains sidelined as he continues his recovery.
Toss & team news at Chepauk
- KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and chose to field first against CSK.
- Rahane said CSK’s previous game had given the squad confidence, stressing the need to “start fresh” after a result that did not go KKR’s way.
- He added that belief and positive mindset are crucial in T20 cricket, and that early overs would set up a chase against the target.
- Rahane also pointed to Mukul’s performance in the earlier match, describing the mindset and effort as key to building momentum.
- Speaking on CSK’s situation, Rahane referenced the challenge of finding balance after the mega auction, noting that injuries and unavailability have disrupted the flow of players.
- He revealed KKR’s only change for the evening: Varun Chakaravarthy comes in as he is fit, replacing Navdeep Saini.
- Gaikwad, meanwhile, did not offer any update on Dhoni’s fitness and confirmed CSK would stick with the same playing XI.
On the surface, CSK’s captain suggested that the pitch had not altered significantly across the course of the game, making the decision to field or bat less impactful. He also looked back at their bowling display in the previous match, stating that defending 210 against a strong DC side gave the team confidence. Gaikwad further credited the collective effort—mentioning that the bowling restricted scoring and the fielding unit saved runs too.
Gaikwad described the day’s mood as “exciting,” with the group focused on executing their plan. He also discussed how CSK are gradually adjusting their combinations, pointing to Brevis returning and to J&P getting crucial overs in the middle phase. In response to a question about the match setup, Gaikwad said CSK would proceed with the same team for this fixture.
Why Dhoni is missing again
Dhoni has now missed all five of CSK’s matches so far this season, including the current contest. Earlier on March 28, CSK had communicated that Dhoni would be sidelined for the opening two weeks of the tournament and would undergo rehabilitation. Although that initial window has passed, he has not yet reached full match fitness.
Dhoni has also not travelled with the squad for CSK’s away fixtures this season, reinforcing that his return is still dependent on reaching the required workload and readiness levels.
MS Dhoni’s IPL record
Across 278 IPL matches, Dhoni has accumulated 5,439 runs from 242 innings, striking at 137.45 with a batting average of 38.30. His tally includes 24 half-centuries, with a best score of 84*.
Dhoni currently sits as the sixth-highest run-scorer in IPL history. Last season, when CSK finished at the bottom of the table, he made 196 runs in 13 innings, averaging 24.50 with a strike rate above 135. His highest score that campaign was 30.
Playing XI
Kolkata Knight Riders
- Ajinkya Rahane (c)
- Cameron Green
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi (w)
- Rovman Powell
- Rinku Singh
- Sunil Narine
- Ramandeep Singh
- Anukul Roy
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Vaibhav Arora
- Kartik Tyagi
Chennai Super Kings
- Sanju Samson (w)
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
- Ayush Mhatre
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Shivam Dube
- Dewald Brevis
- Jamie Overton
- Noor Ahmad
- Anshul Kamboj
- Gurjapneet Singh
- Khaleel Ahmed
Fans will now have to wait a little longer to see whether Dhoni’s net session translates into a match-day role, as CSK and KKR move into the contest with the current squad unchanged.
