Why did MS Dhoni miss RCB vs CSK clash of IPL 2026?

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MS Dhoni also missed CSK’s first two games in IPL 2026.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) face a tough challenge in their third game of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 as they are up against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The CSK vs RCB clash is taking place at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
The Ruturaj Gaikwad & Co started the tournament on a negative note, losing both of their opening games. They lost their first game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) by eight wickets, suffering one of their worst batting collapses.
Despite the home advantage in their previous game, CSK lost against Punjab Kings by five wickets. They posted a decent total of 209 runs batting first, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the Shreyas Iyer & Co.
Two losses in two games has put Ruturaj Gaikwad under scanner. In such a scenario, fans are awaiting MS Dhoni’s return as he can guide the team effectively amid their struggles. Dhoni, who was absent from the first two games, was again not part of the playing XI against RCB.
Why is MS Dhoni not part of the RCB vs CSK clash?

Dhoni has been ruled out for the first two weeks due to an injury. The wicket-keeper batter suffered a calf strain during training sessions ahead of the tournament. He is undergoing rehabilitation in Chennai.
Ahead of the tournament, the CSK management had informed that Dhoni would miss the first two weeks due to the injury. He was seen in the practice sessions recently; however, an update on his return is awaited.
Meanwhile, Chennai languish at the last spot in the IPL 2026 points table and are desperate for a victory. A third consecutive defeat will hamper their chances to qualify for the playoffs.,
Why did MS Dhoni miss the RCB vs CSK clash?
Dhoni has been ruled out of IPL 2026 for two weeks due to a calf strain he sustained in the pre-season training sessions.
Who is the captain of CSK in IPL 2026?
Ruturaj Gaikwad is the captain of CSK in the tournament.
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Vikas Singh Derek is a core cricket-lover since childhood and has always followed the sport both in his personal and professional life. He started his school life by watching cricket at home with family. Later, he played cricket on the field at local clubs during college. After his Master's in Journalism from Mumbai, he followed his passion by covering cricket news across various digital media. Since 2015, he has been an aspiring sports journalist and cricket content writer with over 50K+ articles.