Chennai Super Kings Face Major Setback Ahead of IPL 2026
MS Dhoni's Injury Leaves CSK in a Bind
MS Dhoni: Just before the commencement of IPL 2026, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have encountered a significant blow. Three key players from CSK have sustained injuries. Star fast bowler Nathan Ellis has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to injury. Additionally, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has also suffered an injury during practice. As a result, Dhoni will miss the first six matches of the tournament.
CSK has confirmed that Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be absent for the initial six matches of IPL 2026 due to his injury. This raises the pressing question of who will fill Dhoni's position in the playing eleven for Chennai Super Kings.
Sanju Samson Leads the Contenders
Sanju Samson is the Front-Runner
During the mega auction for IPL 2026, Chennai Super Kings acquired Sanju Samson along with two other wicketkeeper-batsmen. It is expected that Sanju Samson will play as an opener. However, CSK has two wicketkeeper options available to step in for Dhoni during the first six matches.
Sanju Samson is currently the leading candidate to take over wicketkeeping duties in Dhoni's absence. While he typically bats in the top order, CSK will require a finisher in the lower order to replace Dhoni. Therefore, it is possible that Samson could open while Karthik Sharma might be included to fill Dhoni's role.
Other Wicketkeeper Options for CSK
CSK's Additional Wicketkeeper Options
In the IPL 2026 mega auction, Chennai Super Kings purchased explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Karthik Sharma for ₹14.20 crores. Karthik is not only a wicketkeeper but also a hard-hitting batsman.
Karthik Sharma has played 12 T20 matches, scoring 334 runs at an average of 30.36, including 28 sixes, with a strike rate of 162.92. He excels in batting from number 6 to number 8, making him a suitable finisher for the team in Dhoni's absence.
Besides Karthik, Urvil Patel is also part of CSK's squad. He was with the team last season, scoring a total of 68 runs in three matches. Urvil has accumulated 1425 runs in 57 T20 matches and aims to secure his position as a finisher for the team this season.