The wait to see MS Dhoni in the current IPL 2026 is getting longer and fans are now starting to worry. As this season is slowly moving towards its final phase, fans are still waiting for the moment when MS Dhoni will take the field in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) jersey.
But match after match, that moment is not coming in the current IPL 2026. Recently, legendary wicketkeeper Dhoni missed another match of Chennai Super Kings in this season.
MS Dhoni has been sidelined in IPL 2026 due to fitness concerns as the Chennai Super Kings stalwart remains risk-averse
There were expectations that Dhoni would field for the five-time champion team against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, but fans were once again disappointed.
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Instead of traveling to Delhi with the CSK team, Dhoni stayed back in Chennai to continue his rehabilitation. The CSK icon has not played yet this season as he is undergoing a long recovery from the calf injury he suffered just before pre-season training.
The 44-year-old has decided not to rush into anything. It is being said that the former Indian captain is completely focused on recovery and does not want to take any risk at this time.
MS Dhoni is not half fit!!
Meanwhile, there are reports that Dhoni is 100 percent fit, yet he has decided not to play at this time. But the truth is that the former captain of Chennai Super Kings is not completely fit, hence he has kept himself sidelined. There is also a practical reason behind his decision.
Dhoni usually bats lower down the order at No. 7 or 8, where quick runs between the wickets are very important, but he cannot do that right now due to a calf problem. Hence, the great cricketer decided to play only when he was 100% fit to bat for CSK in the tournament.
Also read: MS Dhoni will not play the remaining matches of IPL 2026! R Ashwin made a big claim
Now, a Jagran News journalist has also quoted a top CSK official as sharing that Dhoni is not fully fit, and the great wicketkeeper-batsman has made it clear that he will not play any role this season if he is not sure about his contribution due to his fitness.
Yes, I was somewhere else. @ChennaiIPL The senior most official of the @msdhoni Doesn’t fit. That’s why he did not come to Delhi. He said that he will not play until he is completely fit. https://t.co/MRzLfJlrzb
-Abhishek Tripathi/Abhishek Tripathi (@abishereporter) 6 May 2026
Sanju Samson steps in as keeper in MS Dhoni’s absence for CSK
In the absence of MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson is keeping wickets for Chennai Super Kings this season. Initially, the Rs 18 crore trade seemed like a bold move as Sanju was struggling, but now it looks like a masterstroke. Samson has settled into the CSK setup so seamlessly that it feels as if he has been a part of the team for years.
His confidence, calmness and smart batting have given huge strength to CSK. Samson has scored 402 runs at an average of 57.42 and a strike rate of nearly 168 in 10 matches for the five-time IPL champions so far this season.
He played a brilliant unbeaten inning of 87 runs and led CSK to a big win over DC. The right-handed batsman first scored an unbeaten 115 against Delhi Capitals and then 101 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.
They will next host Lucknow Super Giants in the ongoing IPL 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 10. They are sixth in the points table with 10 points from 10 matches so far.