Will MS Dhoni play tonight in RR vs CSK match of IPL 2026?

MS Dhoni has been major reason behind CSK’s success in IPL.

Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) enter Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 with a point to prove, having finished tenth last year. For the first time ever, CSK ended up with the wooden spoon in IPL history. At the IPL 2026 auction, CSK picked several uncapped Indians and even acquired the services of Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals (RR), by trading away Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in return.

However, CSK‘s start to IPL 2026 has been already hit by a sequence of massive injuries. Already entering the league with one of the weakest bowling lineups, the Yellow Army lost Nathan Ellis due to injury. The Australian was their main death bowler, and his replacement Spencer Johnson too will join the team after 2-3 weeks due to poor fitness.

Slated to begin their campaign against RR in an away fixture, CSK will bank on their new recruits and familiar stars to provide them the perfect start to the new season.

Will MS Dhoni play tonight in RR vs CSK match of IPL 2026?

CSK’s second and possibly most prolific injury worry is related to their former captain and IPL legend MS Dhoni. The Indian great is now 44 years old, and plays just two months of professional cricket every year.

Dhoni will miss the opener against RR due to a calf strain, which he sustained during a pre-season practice sessions at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Not only will Dhoni miss the RR vs CSK match, but according to reports is set to be ruled out of the first six matches.

In his absence, Sanju Samson will don the wicket-keeping gloves. This will mark the first ever time that CSK will play a match without the presence of their iconic trio of MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina.

Dhoni’s void at the lower-middle order will have to be filled by latest additions like Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer or Sarfraz Khan. Prior to this IPL 2026 match, Dhoni previously missed a match for CSK back in 2019.

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