New Delhi, March 28. The upcoming season of the Indian Premier League is set to begin this Saturday, but Chennai Super Kings fans have received disappointing news regarding their veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The legendary cricketer is expected to miss the first two weeks of the tournament due to a calf muscle strain.
The franchise shared this update, noting that the player is currently undergoing rehabilitation for the injury. As per agency report, the team management acknowledged that his absence during the opening fortnight of the 2026 season is highly probable and expressed their wishes for his speedy recovery. This development is seen as a significant setback for the team, which has secured all five of its league titles under his leadership.
In the absence of the experienced player during the early matches, the responsibility of wicketkeeping is expected to be handled primarily by Sanju Samson. Samson, who previously served as the captain of Rajasthan Royals, was included in the Chennai squad after the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team traded all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran with other franchises.
Since retiring from international cricket, the former captain has limited his professional appearances to the Indian Premier League. Throughout his career in the league, he has played a total of 278 matches, scoring 5,439 runs at an average of 38.30, which includes 24 half-centuries. Specifically for Chennai Super Kings, he has featured in 248 matches and accumulated 4,865 runs.
The 2026 season will commence with a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Chennai Super Kings will start their journey against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Following the opener, the team is scheduled to face Punjab Kings on April 3 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 5. Their later fixtures include a match against Delhi Capitals on April 11 and a clash with Kolkata Knight Riders on April 14.
