Chennai Super Kings Wear Black Armbands in IPL 2026 Clash Against Mumbai Indians to Honor Mukesh Choudhary’s Mother

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) took the field wearing black armbands during their Indian Premier League 2026 match against the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Thursday. The gesture was a mark of respect for the mother of CSK fast bowler Mukesh Choudhary, who passed away on Tuesday following a year-long illness.

Franchise Shows Solidarity with Mukesh Choudhary

Mukesh Choudhary retained his place in the playing XI for Thursday’s match despite his recent bereavement. The CSK management released a statement prior to the game confirming the reason behind the black armbands.

“This one is for Mukesh’s mother. In her memory and in solidarity with Mukesh, we wear black armbands and play with a little more in our hearts today,” the franchise announced on social media.

An earlier statement from the team read: “The CSK family mourns the passing of Mukesh Choudhary’s mother. We stand with Mukesh and his family, keeping them in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”

A New Era for the IPL ‘El Clasico’

Thursday’s fixture marked the first encounter between CSK and MI in the 2026 season, representing a notable shift for the two most successful franchises in IPL history. For the first time, the high-profile matchup proceeded without both MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma in the respective playing XIs.

Rohit Sharma missed his third consecutive match for the Mumbai Indians due to an ongoing hamstring issue. Meanwhile, MS Dhoni continues his recovery from a calf strain and has yet to feature in any matches for CSK this season. Details regarding player injuries are regularly monitored by ESPNcricinfo and the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Toss and Lineups

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bowl first against Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Chennai Super Kings. Mumbai fielded an unchanged XI from their previous outing. CSK continued to adjust their lineup in Dhoni’s absence, utilizing Sanju Samson behind the stumps.

Match XIs