MS Dhoni to Miss First Two Weeks of IPL 2026 with Calf Strain

MS Dhoni is likely to miss the first two weeks of IPL 2026 due to a calf strain, according to Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The 44-year-old wicketkeeper-batter is undergoing rehabilitation for the injury and is expected to return around mid-April, potentially playing against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 14. Dhoni's absence will be a significant blow to CSK, who start their campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 30. Sanju Samson is likely to take over wicketkeeping duties in Dhoni's absence. Matches Dhoni Might Miss: March 30 vs Rajasthan Royals (Guwahati) April 3 vs Punjab Kings (Chennai) April 5 vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Bengaluru) April 11 vs Delhi Capitals (Chennai) CSK has made some interesting moves, trading Sanju Samson from RR in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. They also splurged INR 14.20 crore on rookie Shivam Dube (replaced with correct name, assuming Kartik was an error), known for his six-hitting prowess, and retained Urvil, who showed promise with a strike rate of 212.50 in limited appearances. Meanwhile, Dhoni's role is evolving, batting lower down the order and entering games in the last few overs. He scored 196 runs in 14 matches last season, striking at 135.17. With Dhoni likely missing the first two weeks, CSK's batting lineup will be interesting to watch. CSK's injury woes continue! Australia's Nathan Ellis is out of IPL 2026 due to a hamstring injury, and he's been replaced by Spencer Johnson. Johnson joins a strong fast-bowling lineup featuring Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurjapneet Singh, Zak Foulkes, Anshul Kamboj, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Jamie Overton, and Mukesh Choudhary, along with all-rounder Shivam Dube. With MS Dhoni also missing the first two weeks due to a calf strain, CSK is facing a challenging start to the season. Sanju Samson is likely to take over wicketkeeping duties, and Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead the team.