Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player R Ashwin said that everyone should respect MS Dhoni’s decision not to travel with the squad to Guwahati for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match against the Rajasthan Royals (RR). However, he has been ruled out for the initial phase of the campaign due to a calf strain injury as well.

However, R Ashwin said MS Dhoni’s decision was ‘personal’, while adding that it is something out of the ordinary as well.

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“That is his personal choice, Mahi usually does not do this. If he is in the squad, he travels. Maybe he might have done rehab also. But it is his personal choice, how can we give our opinion on that decision? But CSK’s fan base will definitely come for this game,” R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Along with Nathan Ellis and MS Dhoni, their star overseas batter, Dewald Brevis, has also been ruled out for the initial phase of IPL 2026 due to injury. R Ashwin also stated that the franchise should maybe look to open the innings with Ayush Mhatre, if possible.

“I will think of playing Sanju at No.3. But if you have already decided that Ruturaj and Samson will open, then you can think about playing Sarfaraz Khan. There is no need for Matthew Short to play, but you never know. I have seen him bowl in the practice games. So these guys can go in that direction as well because Short has played at No.5, or at No.3 at times, and also gives you four overs. RR have Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, and Ravindra Jadeja, so CSK will need an off-spinner,” R Ashwin concluded.