IPL 2026, RCB vs CSK Today Match: MS Dhoni was not included in the playing XI for Chennai Super Kings' Indian Premier League 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday as he continues to recover from a calf injury.
IPL 2026, RCB vs CSK – Live Cricket Score, Full Scorecard: F0llow Here
The franchise had earlier confirmed that Dhoni would miss up to two weeks of action after sustaining the injury ahead of the season. "MS Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain. As a result, he is likely to miss the first two weeks of the TATA IPL 2026. Get well soon, Thala!" CSK wrote in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on March 28, 2026.
Dhoni has already missed matches against Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings. In his absence, Sanju Samson has taken over wicketkeeping duties following his recent move to the franchise.
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad confirmed at the toss that Dhoni is progressing in his recovery and could return soon. "MS is getting back slowly, sometimes it takes time, if he's ready to play, it'll be soon," he said.
Dhoni’s absence is a significant blow for Chennai, given his experience and strong record against Bengaluru. He has scored 906 runs against RCB in the IPL, his highest against any opponent, and has also enjoyed success at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where he averages over 70 in his career.
Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings won the toss and elected to field. Both teams have fielded unchanged playing XIs for the contest.
Playing XIs:
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Sanju Samson(w), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy
IPL 2026 SRH vs LSG Live Score Updates: Follow Here
Impact Substitutes:
Chennai Super Kings Impact subs: Matthew Short, Akeal Hosein, Kartik Sharma, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Gurjapneet Singh,
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Impact subs:Suyash Sharma,Jacob Bethell,Rasikh Salam Dar,Kanishk Chouhan,Venkatesh Iyer
