MS Dhoni News
Fans of Chennai Super Kings were left concerned after veteran wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni was unavailable for CSK’s IPL 2026 encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Monday. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad confirmed at the toss that Dhoni was not fit enough to participate in the franchise’s final home match of the season.
Dhoni, who has been dealing with fitness issues, has struggled with a calf strain that has kept him away from action throughout the season. Reports also suggest that he may have picked up another injury ahead of the crucial match, raising further questions regarding his condition.
Speaking at the toss, Gaikwad explained the decision and highlighted the team’s approach for the match.
He stated that Chennai wanted to bat first because the surface appeared dry and scoring later could become challenging. Referring to the previous game against Mumbai Indians, he noted that batting conditions had not been ideal and the team intended to keep things straightforward. He also clarified that Dhoni remained with the squad but was unavailable because he had not fully recovered.
After winning the toss, Gaikwad elected to bat first against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Chennai Super Kings also made a single change to the playing XI, bringing in Akeal Hosein in place of Gurjapneet Singh.
On the other side, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins spoke about his team’s mindset heading into the match. He admitted that their qualification chances had become difficult but emphasized that the team remained committed to its aggressive playing style.
Cummins said the squad had enjoyed a six-day break and felt refreshed for the contest. He praised his players for staying committed to their attacking brand of cricket despite mixed results throughout the season. According to him, T20 cricket requires teams to trust their approach even if it doesn’t deliver success every time.
He further mentioned that Hyderabad would likely have chosen to bowl first but was not disappointed by losing the toss. Cummins also confirmed that SRH decided to retain the same playing combination from their previous match.
Teams for the Match
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Smaran Ravichandran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge.
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Spencer Johnson.
With Dhoni sidelined due to fitness issues, attention will now shift toward his recovery and whether the legendary cricketer can return before the end of the season.
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