Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Indian cricket legend MS Dhoni is set to miss the first two weeks of IPL 2026 due to a calf strain, the franchise announced on Saturday. In an official statement, CSK said, “MS Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain and is likely to miss the first two weeks of TATA IPL 2026. Get well soon, Thala!”

CSK will kick off the season on March 30 against the 2008 champions Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. Notably, former RR player Sanju Samson has joined the Yellow franchise, while veteran CSK and India star Ravindra Jadeja has returned to RR in a pre-auction trade. The deal also saw English all-rounder Sam Curran move from CSK to RR, though he will miss the tournament due to injury.

Speculation is rife that IPL 2026 could be Dhoni’s final season, given his ongoing knee and fitness issues. At the recent 'ROAR 26' fan event at Chepauk Stadium, Dhoni admitted that his fitness is “on the way down.” To manage these concerns, he has moved to the lower-middle-order, focusing on big-hitting during the death overs to conserve energy while entertaining the 'Thala Kingdom'.

With Ruturaj Gaikwad leading the team in Dhoni’s absence, CSK has strengthened their squad by bringing in fan-favourite wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson and investing Rs 14.20 crore in uncapped Rajasthan wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma. These moves are widely seen as preparations for the team’s future post-Dhoni.

Over his IPL career, Dhoni has played 278 matches, scoring 5,439 runs in 242 innings at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45, including 24 fifties and a highest score of 84*. He ranks as the sixth-highest run-scorer in IPL history. In the previous season, which ended with CSK at the bottom of the table, Dhoni scored 196 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate above 135, with a top score of 30*.