Chennai Super Kings Begin New Era in IPL 2026 Without Raina and Dhoni

The Chennai Super Kings are set to embark on their IPL 2026 journey against the Rajasthan Royals, marking a historic moment as they play without iconic players Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni. This season signifies a new era for the franchise, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad and featuring a mix of young talents. With Raina retired and Dhoni sidelined due to injury, fans are eager to see how the team adapts. The article delves into the legacy of these legends and provides insights into the full squad for both teams.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 30, 2026, 19:49 IST

CSK's Historic IPL 2026 Opener

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to kick off their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 journey against the Rajasthan Royals, marking a significant moment as it will be the first time the team plays without its legendary figures, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni.

This season's opener signifies a new chapter for CSK, led by captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. The squad also features wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, alongside a host of promising young talents. Notably, the team will be without Raina, who retired from all forms of cricket in 2022, and Dhoni, who is sidelined for the initial two weeks of the season due to a calf injury.

A Milestone for the Yellow Brigade

As five-time IPL champions, CSK has participated in 277 franchise matches, including 253 in the IPL and 24 in the now-defunct Champions League T20. Throughout these games, either Raina or Dhoni has always been present, often both, in the playing XI.

The Impact of Raina and Dhoni

Raina last graced the IPL field in the 2021 season before retiring, while Dhoni transitioned into a new role as a lower-order finisher, focusing on maximizing runs during the death overs.

In his IPL career spanning 278 matches, Dhoni has accumulated 5,439 runs across 242 innings, boasting an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45, with 24 fifties and a top score of 84*. He ranks as the sixth-highest run-scorer in IPL history.

During the previous season, Dhoni managed 196 runs in 13 innings, averaging 24.50 with a strike rate exceeding 135, and his highest score was 30*.

Raina, on the other hand, stands as the fifth-highest run-scorer in IPL history, amassing 5,528 runs in 205 matches and 200 innings, with an average of 32.51 and a strike rate of 136.73, including one century and 39 fifties.

Squad Details

Chennai Super Kings Squad: Sanju Samson(w), Ayush Mhatre, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Urvil Patel, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Akeal Hosein, Sarfaraz Khan, MS Dhoni, Dewald Brevis, Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Chahar, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary, Aman Khan, Gurjapneet Singh, Zakary Foulkes, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer.
Rajasthan Royals Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Riyan Parag(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Adam Milne, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey, Nandre Burger, Kuldeep Sen, Sushant Mishra, Donovan Ferreira, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Vignesh Puthur, Ravi Singh, Aman Rao Perala, Brijesh Sharma.