One of the most loved and scrutinised cricketers to have ever been born in India - Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the perfect story for every small town boy/girl who wants to make it big in life. Hailing from the cricketing backwaters - Jharkhand, Dhoni is unarguably the second most popular player in the cricket frenzy nation after 'God' Sachin Tendulkar. Going by the statistics, Dhoni is India's most successful captain and under his leadership, India have won the top prize in all formats of the gentlemen's game - the inaugural World Twenty20 on his captaincy debut in 2007, No.1 Test ranking for 18 months starting December 2009, and the 50-over World Cup in 2011 in Mumbai.
He is also the first captain in the world to win three different ICC trophies. Dhoni also led India to a memorable 2013 Champions Trophy triumph in England. During his now more than 14-years long international career, Dhoni has played an integral part in many of India's famous victories. For his impressive match-winning skills, the veteran batsman has also been christened with the tag of 'one of the best finishers in the sport', especially in the limited-overs format. However, with age catching up - Dhoni's batting abilities are on the wane but his electric reflexes and impeccable instincts behind the stumps still make him an indispensable asset to Team India. With the countdown of the 2019 ICC World Cup already started, India still needs the services of one of its biggest stalwarts who is responsible for taking the team to insurmountable heights.
A Chennai Super Kings playing XI without MS Dhoni is rare, extremely rare but we will have to get used to it now. That's what has happened in the RR vs CSK clash as the 45-year-old veteran has missed the clash at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. Here's why Dhoni is not playing today:
MS Dhoni has been the backbone of Chennai Super Kings since the IPL began in 2008, leading them to five title triumphs. However, he is set to be a rare absentee when CSK take on Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2026 opener.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will start their campaign in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) edition today against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis are set to miss due to injuries and that will impact the balance of the side a lot. Here's CSK's predicted playing XI:
MS Dhoni is likely to miss out on playing in the first two weeks of the Indian Premier League 2026 as he is rehabilitating from a calf injury. Dhoni has stayed in Chennai and has not travelled with the team to Guwahati for their game against the Rajasthan Royals.
Veteran wicket keeper batter MS Dhoni is likely to miss the first two weeks of the upcoming edition of the IPL (Indian Premier League) 2026 as he is currently undergoing rehab due to a calf strain.
Aakash Chopra believes Virat Kohli could outshine Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni in IPL 2026, citing his fitness and consistency. While Rohit eyes a comeback to runs in IPL and Dhoni faces a tough role, Kohli’s form and fitness at 37 give him an extra edge.
With the IPL (Indian Premier League) 2026 all set to kick off on March 28, let us have a look at the top five oldest players who will be competing in the upcoming edition of the season. The likes of Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, AJinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma, and Sunil Narine feature on the list.
Aakash Chopra feels MS Dhoni should retire if he plays as an Impact Player in IPL 2026, stressing his value lies on the field. With CSK backing youth and Sanju Samson as a successor, signs point to a potential final season for the veteran.
Star India batter Sanju Samson was captured talking to former Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni in training as the two stars will take centre stage for Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming edition of the IPL (Indian Premier League).
AB de Villiers holds the IPL record with 12 Player of the Match awards, a mark untouched since his 2021 retirement. In IPL 2026, legends Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are close and a strong season could see a new record-holder emerge.
AB de Villiers advises MS Dhoni to bat higher in IPL 2026, warning that batting at eight or nine limits his impact. He praises Sanju Samson as the ideal long-term successor, following CSK’s blockbuster trade that brought Samson in for Jadeja and Curran.
Cheteshwar Pujara recently came forward and talked about the potential batting position of former India skipper MS Dhoni for Chennai Super Kings as the IPL (Indian Premier League) 2026 is slated to kick off on March 28.
Former India chief selector Sandeep Patil has made it clear that MS Dhoni never asked to drop Yuvraj Singh from the Indian team. This comes after Yograj Singh repeatedly blamed Dhoni for dropping his son from the squad unfairly.
Hardik Pandya has won nine T20 titles, including two T20 World Cups and two Asia Cups, joining MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu as joint-second among Indians. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma tops the list with 11 titles. After the final, Hardik expressed that he wants to win 10 more ICC titles.
With India defeating New Zealand in the final of the T20 World Cup 2026, former India skipper MS Dhoni took to social media and congratulated the Men in Blue for their brilliant performances throughout the tournament.
Legendary captains MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma brought the T20 World Cup trophy to the field at Narendra Modi Stadium ahead of the 2026 final between India and New Zealand, creating a special moment for fans before the summit clash.
Star India captain Suryakumar Yadav equalled the tally of former India skipper MS Dhoni after leading the Indian team to another stellar victory against Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026.
Chasing 151 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, UAE slumped to 66/4 before Aryansh Sharma (74*) and Shoaib Khan (51 off 29) forged an 84-run stand to seal a five-wicket win. After the game, Sohaib revealed that he was inspired by MS Dhoni and stayed calm under pressure to win the game.
MS Dhoni’s biggest concern ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 is dew, which he believes can swing matches and make the toss crucial. India suffered the same fate in 2021 and he warned that even strong teams can suffer if conditions turn unfavourable.
MS Dhoni opened up on why he avoids doing commentary despite having retired from international cricket in August 2020. Dhoni, who is still active in the Indian Premier League, stated that he is not good with stats.