MS Dhoni Sidelined With Calf Strain as Mumbai Indians Elect to Bowl Against CSK

Chennai Super Kings wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni remains out of action for the highly anticipated IPL 2026 match against the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya won the toss on Thursday and elected to field first on a green surface.

Why is MS Dhoni Not Playing Today?

Dhoni continues his recovery from a calf strain sustained prior to the start of the IPL 2026 season late last month. Despite heavy speculation regarding his return, the veteran will miss the marquee encounter against Mumbai.

Earlier in the week, Dhoni participated in a rigorous training session, spending time keeping wickets and facing throwdown specialists in the nets for nearly an hour. He was also seen interacting with ground staff and a robotic dog on the field, raising fans’ hopes for a potential return. However, the CSK management opted against rushing him back into the playing XI.

Toss Report and Captains’ Comments

Mumbai Indians enter the contest with an unchanged lineup. Hardik Pandya cited the team’s high intensity and momentum from previous fixtures as the primary reason for fielding first.

“We are gonna bowl first. A lot of boxes were ticked, intensity was there,” Pandya stated. “It looks green, but it played really well. Same team.”

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad confirmed he would have also preferred to bowl first, calling it a split decision dictated by the Wankhede pitch conditions. Gaikwad acknowledged the massive crowd support for the away team, attributing the noise directly to Dhoni’s legacy.

“Obviously all thanks to the legend who is not here unfortunately,” Gaikwad noted during the toss broadcast on BCCI’s official platforms. “Everywhere you go, we have a lot of support. We are doing really well; it’s just that we are not able to cash in on a couple of moments.”

MI vs CSK Starting Lineups

Both teams have adjusted their combinations for this ESPN Cricinfo tracked fixture, with CSK making strategic changes to their matchday squad featuring newly acquired players like Sanju Samson and Dewald Brevis.