IPL 2026: MS Dhoni out for 2 weeks, Sanju Samson to open; big changes as ex-CSK star reveals Playing XI
Chennai Super Kings face a significant setback as MS Dhoni is ruled out for the first two weeks of IPL 2026 due to a calf strain. In response, former CSK player Ravichandran Ashwin has unveiled his strongest playing XI, featuring Sanju Samson as wicketkeeper-opener and a balanced mix of batsmen and bowlers.
Chennai Super Kings have been dealt a major blow after their talismanic player MS Dhoni was ruled out for the first two weeks of IPL 2026 due to a calf strain. “MS Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain. As a result, he is likely to miss the first two weeks of IPL 2026,” the franchise said in a statement.
Soon after Dhoni was ruled out, former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, who has also represented CSK in the past, picked his strongest playing XI with Impact Player options for the five-time champions. Ashwin selected Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeper-batter and also named him as an opener alongside captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. The former CSK player slotted three attacking batters in the next positions - Urvil Patel at No.
3, Dewald Brevis at No. 4, followed by India’s T20 World Cup 2026 all-rounder Shivam Dube at No. 5.
Ashwin provided two options for the No. 6 spot - Sarfaraz Khan as his first choice, with India U19 World Cup-winning captain Ayush Mhatre as the alternative. He overlooked Prashant Veer and picked Kartik Sharma for the No.