MS Dhoni is reportedly set to miss Chennai Super Kings’ crucial IPL 2026 clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad after suffering a fresh thumb injury, dealing another major blow to CSK fans eagerly waiting for his return. According to reports, Dhoni sustained the injury before Chennai’s match against the Lucknow Super Giants and did not travel with the squad to Lucknow, despite initial plans for him to join the team.
The latest setback comes while Dhoni is already recovering from a calf strain that ruled him out at the beginning of the IPL 2026 season. The former CSK captain was initially expected to miss only the first two weeks of the tournament.
However, delayed recovery, minor setbacks, and Dhoni’s own reluctance to disturb a winning team combination extended his absence far longer than expected. With Chennai preparing for their final home game of the league stage at Chepauk, many supporters hoped the SRH fixture would finally mark his long-awaited comeback.
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MS Dhoni did attend Chennai’s pre-match practice session on Sunday, which briefly raised hopes among fans. However, reports suggest the veteran wicketkeeper-batter still does not consider himself “100 percent fit” enough to feature either in the playing XI or even as an Impact Player.
Ms Dhoni will come to the stadium today, but the chances of him playing the match are next to none (thumb injury) He will come to the ground for the Chennai fans.
It’s possible he might play next season pic.twitter.com/4uW5HtiSrv
— Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) May 18, 2026
Despite missing the game, MS Dhoni is still expected to be present at the MA Chidambaram Stadium during the match. The report added that he is likely to join the team during the traditional lap of honour after the game, giving CSK supporters an opportunity to see him at Chepauk once again.
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Chennai Super Kings will now hope to keep their IPL 2026 playoff campaign alive with a crucial win against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The five-time champions currently sit fifth on the points table with 12 points from 12 matches and remain firmly in contention for a top-four finish.
CSK likely need victories in both their remaining league matches — against SRH at home and Gujarat Titans away — to secure qualification comfortably. Even a single defeat, however, could leave Chennai heavily dependent on other results in the playoff race.
