IPL 2026, CSK vs SRH Today Match: MS Dhoni sent the MA Chidambaram Stadium crowd into a frenzy after making an appearance on the field during the mid-innings break of Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2026 clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Although Dhoni did not feature in the playing XI, the former CSK captain walked onto the Chepauk outfield during a team photoshoot ahead of the second innings, drawing huge cheers from the packed stadium.
The appearance marked Dhoni’s first visit to Chepauk on a match day during IPL 2026 after the veteran missed the entire season so far because of injury concerns.
Team photoshoots are usually conducted during a franchise’s final home game of the season, and Monday’s encounter against SRH was Chennai Super Kings’ last match at Chepauk this year before travelling to Ahmedabad for their final league-stage game against Gujarat Titans.
Following the brief appearance on the field, Dhoni returned to the dressing room, where he had watched most of the first innings.
The former India captain initially suffered a calf strain during the pre-season training camp, and recent reports suggested that he was also dealing with a thumb injury, further delaying his return.
At the toss, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad confirmed that Dhoni remained unavailable because of fitness issues.
“He's still here, but he's not fit enough to play this game. Hopefully we win this one and you'll never know in the last game,” Gaikwad said at the toss.
Earlier in the evening, Chennai Super Kings posted 180/7 after being asked to bat first. Dewald Brevis top-scored with 44 off 27 balls, while Sanju Samson made 27 and Kartik Sharma added 32.
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, captain Pat Cummins was the standout bowler with figures of 3/28.
The match remained crucial for both teams in the playoff race. Chennai needed a victory to stay alive in contention, while a win for Hyderabad would secure a playoff berth and also confirm qualification for Gujarat Titans.
