At 44 years old, MS Dhoni is currently sidelined from IPL 2026 due to a calf injury and has not yet played in the tournament. Although he has resumed wicketkeeping drills, his return date remains uncertain. Despite this, Dhoni’s impact on Chennai Super Kings persists.
CSK opener Sanju Samson discussed the experience of joining the five-time title winners and Dhoni’s ongoing role in shaping the team.
“It’s a unique experience for me… being part of such a high-profile group makes me feel more accountable. I can’t afford to lose my wicket carelessly,” Samson stated during an event.
“After giving away your wicket, you’re at the airport and fans say, ‘Brother, bat more cautiously.’ I’m adapting quickly to life as a CSK player. Being on a winning team isn’t about acting superior or overconfident. The core principles are established by Mahi bhai, and you sense his presence in every player and staff member.”
In other news, Chennai Super Kings announced on Tuesday that top-order batsman Ayush Mhatre will miss the rest of IPL 2026 after injuring his hamstring in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The team indicated he needs six to twelve weeks of recovery.
“Ayush Mhatre is out for the remainder of IPL 2026 following a left hamstring injury from batting in the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18. He requires 6-12 weeks of rehabilitation. We hope for his quick recovery,” the statement read.
After the defeat, batting coach Michael Hussey commented on Mhatre’s injury from the April 18 encounter, noting uncertainty about its severity but describing it as concerning.
Mhatre entered as an impact player replacing Gurjapneet Singh in the second over of CSK’s pursuit of 195 runs, after losing opener Sanju Samson. The 18-year-old performed impressively, scoring 30 runs off 12 deliveries.
