MS Dhoni will not play in tonight’s SRH vs CSK clash in IPL 2026
MS Dhoni isn’t going to feature in tonight’s SRH vs CSK match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, even though he travelled with the Chennai Super Kings squad for the April 18 fixture. The 44-year-old legend is still stuck on the sidelines.
Now, it looks like his potential comeback is shifted toward the away game against the Mumbai Indians on April 23 or the home match against the Gujarat Titans on April 26. Millions of fans had flooded social media with hope, but tonight, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side have to go into battle without their biggest icon.
Why has MS Dhoni missed every CSK game so far this season?
MS Dhoni picked up a calf strain during pre-season training, and that injury has kept him out of all five of CSK’s matches in IPL 2026 so far. The CSK management has been careful not to rush his recovery, a philosophy head coach Stephen Fleming made clear when talking to the press. Fleming confirmed the team is prioritising MS Dhoni’s long-term fitness over a quick return, especially since being a wicketkeeper in T20 cricket is so physically demanding.
Recently, Dhoni was seen in a short net session before CSK’s home game against the Kolkata Knight Riders. He was facing throwdowns but stayed away from full-intensity batting drills, which was a sign he’s slowly working his way back.
However, fans went into a frenzy when he actually boarded the flight to Hyderabad. It was the first time in IPL 2026 that Dhoni travelled for an away game, after skipping the earlier trips to Bengaluru and Guwahati. CSK even posted a video of him getting on the team bus, and the internet blew up with the usual mix of joy and “Thala” chants.
Across an IPL career spanning 278 matches, Dhoni has racked up 5,439 runs at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of over 137. With 24 fifties under his belt, he remains one of the most impactful players the league has ever seen. It’s exactly why every CSK match without him feels like something massive is missing.
What tonight’s SRH vs CSK clash looks like without Dhoni?
Both teams coming into this IPL 2026 clash have the same record, four points from five matches. That said, CSK have the momentum of two straight wins, while SRH are under the pump after losing Pat Cummins to injury and David Payne to a season-ending ankle problem. CSK have their own injury headaches beyond Dhoni, too. Khaleel Ahmed is out for the rest of IPL 2026 with a quadricep tear, and Nathan Ellis is also sidelined for the year.
Even with those gaps, CSK’s bowlers are still performing. Anshul Kamboj is leading the way with 10 wickets this season, and Jamie Overton has been a great all-round contributor, chipping in with 87 runs and five wickets, including a huge 4/18 against Delhi Capitals.
Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Khan has smashed 122 runs at a strike rate of 182.09, giving CSK some serious firepower in the middle order. Sanju Samson is still wearing the gloves while Dhoni is out, and he’ll be looking to find some form with the bat after a slow start to his time with CSK.
Historically, CSK have dominated this matchup with a 15–7 head-to-head record against SRH. The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium usually favours the chasing team, with sides batting second winning about 57% of the 84 T20s played here. Since dew will likely play a role later in the evening, both captains will almost certainly want to bowl first if they win the toss.
Younger, Faster, Better? How Shubman Gill Just Erased A Massive Virat Kohli IPL Record
Seeing MS Dhoni watching from the dugout in tonight’s SRH vs CSK game has become a familiar sight lately, but fans are already looking ahead. The dates everyone has circled in yellow are April 23 and April 26, the two games where Thala might finally make his return.
