Chennai Super Kings announced on Saturday that Mahendra Singh Dhoni will likely miss the opening two weeks of the IPL season due to a calf strain. The 44-year-old wicketkeeper-batter is currently undergoing rehabilitation to recover before returning to action.
Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, has played exclusively in the IPL since then and previously led Chennai to five titles before stepping down as captain in 2024. Last season, he featured in all 14 matches, scoring 196 runs as the team finished at the bottom of the standings.
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Chennai’s first match of IPL 2026 is against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on Monday. The tournament begins later on Saturday and will continue until May 31, with Dhoni expected to return after the initial fortnight.
The team expressed confidence in Dhoni’s rehabilitation and emphasized that his recovery is a priority ahead of the demanding IPL schedule. His presence remains key for Chennai as they aim to improve on last season’s performance.
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Fans and analysts will be closely watching Dhoni’s progress, as his experience and leadership are crucial to Chennai’s campaign, even in a post-captaincy role.