Why is MS Dhoni not playing CSK vs SRH clash of IPL 2026?
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MS Dhoni has not played any game for CSK in IPL 2026 so far.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 63rd match of the Indian Premier League 2026 on May 18. The encounter got underway at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
CSK are placed fifth in the points table with 12 points, having won six out of 12 games. They still have two more matches left in the league stage and will have to win both to qualify for the playoffs.
SRH are placed third, and a victory against CSK will help them to book a berth in the playoffs. They have won seven and lost five out of 12 encounters.
In match 63 of IPL 2026, CSK won the toss and opted to bat first. Notably, MS Dhoni is once again absent from CSK’s playing XI. He has not played any games in the tournament so far.
Why is MS Dhoni absent from the CSK vs SRH clash?
MS Dhoni suffered a calf injury ahead of the season. He has recovered from his injury but is still working on his fitness. Since then, there have been regular updates about his recovery. The CSK management has not given the exact reason for his absence in recent games.
The wicket-keeper batsman is participating in practice sessions. Earlier, it was said that he is working on running between the wickets. Some reports also suggested that Dhoni has cleared fitness tests, but he and the team decided not to disturb the team combination.
While he has been training regularly with the squad, there is still no clear answer about his return to the playing XI. Sanju Samson has taken the wicket-keeping duties in Dhoni’s absence since the start of the tournament.
Speaking at the toss, Gaikwad said, “We are looking to bat first. Looking a bit dry and we want to put up a good total. Even the last game against MI, it wasn’t the best of wickets to bat on. Nothing complicated and we want to keep it simple. MS is still here but he is not fit enough to play this game. We have one change.”
Is MS Dhoni part of the CSK vs SRH clash of IPL 2026?
No, MS Dhoni is not part of the clash.
What is the venue of the CSK vs SRH clash?
The venue of the encounter is the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
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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.