Why is MS Dhoni not playing tonight's GT vs CSK clash of IPL 2026?
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
MS Dhoni has not played any game for CSK in IPL 2026 so far.
Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are squaring off in the 66th match of the Indian Premier League 2026 tonight. While GT have qualified for the playoffs, CSK have a slim chance of making it to the top four.
Shubman Gill & Co. are placed second in the points table with 16 points. A victory against CSK will send GT closer to a top-two finish in the points table and directly play in Qualifier 1.
Speaking about CSK, they need to win tonight’s encounter to reach 14 points. They will also need a few other results in their favour to make it to the playoffs. Hence, their chances are very slim.
In match 66, CSK won the toss and opted to field first. Notably, MS Dhoni is once again absent from the encounter. He has not played a single game in the tournament.
Why is MS Dhoni absent from the GT vs CSK clash?
MS Dhoni did not travel with his teammates to Ahmedabad and instead flew back home to Ranchi. Ahead of the match, CSK batting coach Michael Hussey revealed that Dhoni is recovering from a thumb injury.
“I can confirm he is not here with the team, but if we do happen to qualify, then he will definitely join back up with the team. He has got a bit of a sore thumb, so it is recovering nicely, but he would not be ready for this match. But hopefully, if we can manage to get through to the playoffs, then hopefully he will be alright,” Hussey said.
Dhoni suffered a calf injury before the start of the season, which ruled him out of the initial matches. Even after recovering from his injury, he was not picked in the playing XI. The CSK management has not given the exact reason for his absence in recent games.
The wicket-keeper batsman also took part 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 CSK management have decided not to disturb the team combination.
Sanju Samson has taken the wicket-keeping duties in Dhoni’s absence since the start of the tournament.
Why is MS Dhoni not part of the GT vs CSK clash of IPL 2026?
Dhoni did not travel with the team in Ahmedabad due to a thumb injury.
What is the venue of the GT vs CSK clash?
The venue of the encounter is the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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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.