IPL 2026: Dhoni set to miss first two weeks of IPL due to calf strain

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon M.S. Dhoni is set to miss the first two weeks of the IPL due to a calf injury, the franchise said on Saturday (March 28, 2026).

“MS Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain. As a result, he is likely to miss the first two weeks of TATA IPL 2026,” CSK said in a statement.

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Speaking to The Hindu, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said the injury occurred “during a practice match” at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here. He added that Dhoni is undergoing rehabilitation “in Chennai” under the supervision of the CSK support staff and is expected to take around two weeks to recover.

The development comes days after Dhoni, at the CSK ROAR’26 event, acknowledged that his fitness was “on the way down” with age, when the prospect of playing beyond this season was put to him on stage.

Dhoni has continued playing the IPL ever since retiring from international cricket in 2020.

The 44-year-old has managed his workload carefully in recent seasons. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in Mumbai following CSK’s title-winning campaign in 2023, where he played through the tournament with a heavily strapped left knee.

Though Ruturaj Gaikwad is the captain of the side, Dhoni is the de facto leader of the franchise, having stayed with them since 2008 barring the time they were suspended from the competition.

In IPL 2025, Dhoni featured in all 14 league matches and batted lower down the order.

CSK begins its IPL 2026 campaign against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30. In Dhoni’s absence, the team has wicketkeeping options in Sanju Samson and the uncapped Kartik Sharma.

(with inputs from PTI)