MS Dhoni available for the DC vs CSK IPL 2026 match? Check details

Since the inception of the Indian Premier League 2026, fans have been eagerly awaiting MS Dhoni's appearance in CSK's matches. Although fans have been constantly waiting for MS Dhoni to take the field since the very start of IPL 2026, a calf injury has prevented him from stepping onto the pitch so far. Before the season began, it was widely believed that Dhoni would rejoin the playing XI after missing the initial 3-4 matches; however, in the blink of an eye, more than half the season has passed, yet Dhoni has still not made his return to the playing XI.

CSK has played a total of 9 matches thus far, securing victories in 4 of them, and the team currently sits at the 6th spot on the points table with 8 points. To qualify for the playoffs, CSK will need to win almost all of their remaining matches. The team's season so far has been entirely a roller-coaster ride, marked by both highs and lows. While the team is certainly settling into a rhythm gradually, fans remain focused on—and are still awaiting—Dhoni's return.

Recently, CSK bowling coach Eric Simmons provided an update on Dhoni's calf injury, stating that he is still in the process of recovering and will not be travelling to Delhi for Chennai Super Kings' upcoming match against Delhi Capitals. This clearly implies that Dhoni will not be playing in the match against DC either. 

“Update on MS Dhoni is way above my pay grade. He’s not with us (in Delhi), but steadily improving. He’ll be ready when he’s ready, and he knows when he’s ready to play,” that was all Simons had to say on the team icon. 

For the 44-year-old MS Dhoni, every season since 2020 has felt like it could be his last; yet, he has continued to play in every edition. This marks the first time in the history of the IPL that Dhoni has been unable to play even a single match in a season due to an injury.

Amidst this situation, several videos of MS Dhoni's training and batting sessions have surfaced on social media, offering glimpses that suggest he is indeed gearing up to play. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, while alluding to Dhoni's fitness on several occasions, has stated that Dhoni will certainly be fit for any part of the ongoing IPL.

In his absence, Sanju Samson has taken over wicket-keeping duties and has played a pivotal role in three of the team's four victories. Currently, Sanju is CSK's leading run-scorer in IPL 2026. Simons also said that he believes his team can still qualify for the playoffs despite their present situation. 

“There has become a bit of a gap between the top four and the rest, but we still have our destiny in our own hands, and we do know that we can beat any team in the league. So if we keep playing to our potential, there’s no reason why we can’t be on the top of the table. When we play well, we look really unbeatable,” he said.