Dhoni Stays in Chennai for Rehab, Rohit’s Return His Own Call IPL 2026 Injury Latest
Two of cricket’s biggest names are racing against time in IPL 2026. MS Dhoni has not travelled to Delhi for Chennai Super Kings’ next game, and Rohit Sharma’s return for Mumbai Indians depends entirely on how he feels going into Monday night. Both situations are being watched closely as the league stage enters its final stretch.
Dhoni Misses Delhi Trip, Stays Back for Calf Rehab
MS Dhoni has remained in Chennai while the rest of the Super Kings squad flew to New Delhi for their May 6 fixture against Delhi Capitals. The reason is a calf injury that is still keeping him from returning to match-day action.
What makes this more significant is that Dhoni has not played a single game all season. His last IPL appearance was on May 25, 2025, against Gujarat Titans — nearly a full year ago. Despite that, the CSK franchise has not completely closed the door on seeing him play this season.
A senior team official confirmed to a leading cricket outlet: “He should be available at some stage.” That single line is enough to keep fans hopeful, but it also makes clear that nothing is certain yet.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Injury | Calf injury |
| Matches played in IPL 2026 | 0 |
| Last IPL appearance | May 25, 2025 vs Gujarat Titans |
| Current status | Continuing rehab in Chennai |
| Travelling with team to Delhi? | No |
CSK currently have five league games remaining, which gives Dhoni a window to return if his recovery accelerates. For the full fixture list, check the 2026 IPL schedule.
CSK’s Remaining Fixtures at a Glance
The Super Kings are in sixth position with four wins from nine games. They need to win most of their remaining fixtures to seal a playoff spot.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| May 6 | vs Delhi Capitals | New Delhi |
| May 10 | vs Lucknow Super Giants | Chennai |
| May 15 | vs Lucknow Super Giants | Lucknow |
| May 18 | vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Chennai |
| May 21 | vs Gujarat Titans | Ahmedabad |
Four wins from five is a tall order, but CSK have done it before. The question is whether they can do it without their most iconic player. See where they stand right now on the points table.
Rohit Sharma’s Return Left Entirely to Him
Across town, the situation with Rohit Sharma is slightly more optimistic but equally uncertain. Rohit has been out since April 12 with a hamstring injury and has missed five matches in that spell — four of which Mumbai Indians lost.
On Sunday evening, Rohit came to Wankhede with head coach Mahela Jayawardene and batted for close to an hour. He also went through fitness drills before the batting session. The encouraging sign is that MI’s team management has left the decision completely in his hands.
- Rohit has been sidelined since April 12
- He missed five games, MI lost four of them
- Sunday was a travel day, yet he came in specifically to bat
- The management has said the call is his to make
- His fitness and confidence from the session will determine if he plays Monday
That kind of trust from the management tells you a lot about how important Rohit is to MI’s setup — and how carefully they are handling his return.
Why Both Returns Matter So Much
The timing here is everything. Both CSK and MI are trying to stay in playoff contention, and neither side can afford to keep losing games. Dhoni’s presence behind the stumps and in the dressing room changes the energy of a CSK game completely. And Rohit’s batting at the top for Mumbai Indians gives them a different dimension that no other player replicates.
CSK’s head-to-head battles coming up against sides like Lucknow and Sunrisers are going to be intense. Their full squad depth and fixture breakdown is available on the CSK squad page.
For context on how these rivalries tend to play out, the CSK vs LSG head-to-head history is worth a look ahead of the May 10 clash.
Key Takeaways
- Dhoni did not travel to Delhi with CSK, continuing calf rehab in Chennai
- He has played zero games in IPL 2026, last appeared May 25, 2025
- A CSK official says he “should be available at some stage” this season
- Rohit Sharma batted for an hour on Sunday and the decision to play is his
- Rohit has missed five games; MI lost four of those matches
- Both players are critical to their teams’ playoff chances in the final stretch
Keep up with all the injury news and match updates on the IPL 26 updates section.
FAQs
Why is MS Dhoni not playing in IPL 2026?
Dhoni is dealing with a calf injury and has not been match-ready all season. He has stayed back in Chennai for rehabilitation while the rest of the squad travelled to Delhi.
Has Dhoni played any game in IPL 2026?
No. Dhoni has not played a single match in IPL 2026. His last IPL appearance was on May 25, 2025, against Gujarat Titans.
Will Dhoni play in IPL 2026 at all?
A senior CSK official said he should be available at some stage this season. CSK still have five league games left, so a comeback is possible if his recovery goes well.
Why is Rohit Sharma not playing for Mumbai Indians?
Rohit has been sidelined since April 12 with a hamstring injury. He has missed five matches during this period.
Is Rohit Sharma playing against LSG on Monday?
The decision has been left entirely to Rohit himself. He batted for nearly an hour on Sunday with the head coach present, which is an encouraging sign, but nothing has been confirmed.
How many games do CSK have left in IPL 2026?
Chennai Super Kings have five league matches remaining, against Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants (twice), Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans.
