Indian cricket great MS Dhoni did not feature in a single match for the Chennai Super Kings during IPL 2026, making it the first time in the tournament’s 19-season history that he missed an entire campaign.
Despite being named in CSK’s squad for IPL 2026, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter remained on the sidelines throughout the tournament.
Ahead of the team’s final league match against Gujarat Titans on Thursday, CSK batting coach Michael Hussey had hinted that Dhoni, who was nursing a thumb injury, could be “alright” and available for the playoffs if the team qualified.
However, CSK’s defeat ended their IPL 2026 playoff hopes and with it the possibility of Dhoni featuring in the 2026 season.
Had Dhoni taken the field this season, it would have marked his 19th IPL campaign and 17th with CSK. The former Indian captain represented Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016 and 2017 when CSK were suspended from the IPL.
Since joining the franchise in the inaugural IPL season in 2008, Dhoni has become synonymous with CSK, leading the side through its most successful era.
Dhoni captained CSK from 2008 to 2023, barring the two seasons when the franchise was suspended, and guided the Super Kings to five Indian Premier League titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023.
He remains the joint-most successful captain in IPL history alongside Rohit Sharma, who also has five titles with the Mumbai Indians.
The veteran cricketer had briefly returned as CSK captain in IPL 2025 after Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out midway through the season with an elbow injury. However, they failed to make the playoffs.
At IPL 2026, with Ruturaj Gaikwad back at the helm, CSK endured another disappointing campaign, finishing with six wins and 12 points from 14 matches.
Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, played 248 matches for CSK and scored 4865 runs for the franchise. Overall, he featured in 278 IPL matches, amassing 5439 runs.
He was also the IPL’s most-capped player before the record was overtaken by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the 2026 season.
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