CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has shared an encouraging fitness update on MS Dhoni, indicating the wicketkeeper-batter is progressing in his recovery and should regain full readiness soon. The 44-year-old is currently sidelined while he completes rehabilitation for a calf issue, with Chennai already preparing for an early-season absence.
With the IPL 2026 season looming, CSK’s message has been clear: Dhoni is expected to miss the opening stretch of the tournament—at least the first fortnight of the 19th edition. In the meantime, Sanju Samson has been handling the wicketkeeping responsibilities for the franchise.
Quick facts
- Ruturaj Gaikwad says MS Dhoni is “on track” and recovering gradually.
- Dhoni is out due to rehabilitation for a calf strain ahead of IPL 2026.
- CSK expects Dhoni to miss the first two weeks of the 19th IPL season.
- Sanju Samson has been wicketkeeping in Dhoni’s absence.
- Dhoni already missed CSK’s first three IPL 2026 matches.
- CSK lost their opening two games versus Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings.
- Chatter is ongoing about whether this IPL could be Dhoni’s final season with CSK.
- In the previous season, Dhoni played 14 matches, scored 196 runs (avg 24.50, SR 135.17), and batted as low as No.8 in some innings.
- Dhoni is the fourth player to appear in all 19 IPL seasons, joining Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Manish Pandey.
Gaikwad’s comments came at the toss ahead of CSK’s match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday. When asked for a status update on Dhoni, the CSK captain stressed that the veteran’s return is being handled step by step.
“He is on track. He is getting there slowly, slowly. He is eager to play. But you know it takes time sometimes. It will be soon,” Gaikwad said at the toss when Ravi Shastri put the question to him.
Dhoni’s early-season run and IPL future talk
Dhoni’s absence has already stretched across CSK’s early campaign, with the wicketkeeper-batter missing the opening three matches of IPL 2026. Chennai have already suffered setbacks in their first two fixtures, falling to the Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, and now head into the RCB contest as underdogs.
Beyond the current injury phase, the tournament has also sparked renewed debate about Dhoni’s long-term involvement with CSK. With five IPL titles to his name for the franchise, questions have started to surface about whether this season could be his last as a player for Chennai.
In the most recent IPL, Dhoni faced intense scrutiny around his batting position, with the wicketkeeper-batter sometimes promoted down to No.8. Those lower-order cameos became part of the wider conversation about his role, even as CSK continued to rely on him as an experience-led presence.
Statistically, Dhoni contributed across 14 matches last season, scoring 196 runs at an average of 24.50 and striking at 135.17. After Gaikwad was sidelined by a hairline fracture, Dhoni had also taken over the captaincy duties for the franchise.
Since CSK signed Sanju Samson, the speculation surrounding Dhoni’s next chapter in the IPL has only grown louder. Dhoni is also a landmark figure in the league’s history, being just the fourth player to have played in all 19 IPL seasons, alongside Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Manish Pandey.
CSK vs RCB: toss and line-ups
On Sunday, Gaikwad won the toss and chose to bowl first against RCB. The match is being staged at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where CSK’s decision sets the tone for how they want to manage the chase or defend once the innings concludes.
CSK made no alterations to their playing XI, and RCB—also entering the contest with freshness after a gap of eight days—matched that approach by sticking with their unchanged squad. RCB’s previous outing ended with a win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, after they successfully chased a target of more than 200 runs.
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Sanju Samson (w), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy.
