MS Dhoni to Miss CSK's Match Against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026

Dhoni's Absence from Upcoming Match

New Delhi [India] - May 4: MS Dhoni, the prominent wicketkeeper-batter for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), will not be making the trip to Delhi for the team's upcoming clash with Delhi Capitals (DC) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

Bowling coach Eric Simmons confirmed on Monday that Dhoni will be absent from the match scheduled for Tuesday, which could mark his tenth missed game this season.

“The latest on MS Dhoni is beyond my expertise. He’s not with us, but he is making progress. He will return when he feels ready. He knows when he’s fit to play,” Simmons stated ahead of CSK's tenth match of the season against DC.

Dhoni has been sidelined due to a calf muscle injury sustained during the pre-season training camp and has yet to participate in any matches for CSK in this IPL season.

Although he has been present with the team since March and has actively participated in practice sessions and net drills, which have been widely shared on social media, Dhoni has not played in any of the eight matches so far.

Retained by the Super Kings as an 'uncapped player' for Rs 4 crore ahead of IPL 2025, this retention has continued into IPL 2026, keeping his salary unchanged.

In the previous IPL 2025 season, Dhoni performed reasonably well, scoring 196 runs across 14 matches with an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 135.17.

Currently, CSK sits sixth on the points table, having bounced back from a challenging start that included three consecutive losses.

Earlier, CSK's batting coach Michael Hussey mentioned that Dhoni intentionally opted not to attend the IPL 2026 matches to avoid being a distraction for the team.

“MS Dhoni is very team-oriented. He always prioritizes what’s best for the team, and he was concerned that his presence might create a distraction. The cameras would focus on him, and the crowd would cheer for him,” Hussey explained.