As Chennai Super Kings (CSK) prepare for the upcoming IPL edition, the whistle podu fans have received both reassurance and a reality check. While CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has confirmed that MS Dhoni will be available for the upcoming season, multiple reports confirm that the 44-year-old legend will not feature in every game.

Primary reasons why MS Dhoni won’t feature in every game of IPL 2026

1. Fitness and workload management at 44

The most compelling reason for Dhoni’s reduced participation is simply the physical demands of the game at his age. Dhoni, who turns 45 in July 2026, has been managing persistent knee and back issues over recent seasons. Wicketkeeping across tightly packed IPL fixtures – often with minimal turnaround time between matches – can take a significant toll on his body.

A senior CSK official spilled beans on the franchise’s approach: “We can confirm that he [Dhoni] is coming to Chennai and had confirmed his availability for the season. Whether he will play all games or not is something we can’t say at the moment.” The team management is expected to use Dhoni selectively through the long tournament to manage these physical demands.

2. Sanju Samson’s arrival provides reliable cover

The acquisition of Sanju Samson in a high-profile trade from Rajasthan Royals has transformed CSK’s wicketkeeping options. With Samson now in the squad, CSK possess a ready-made first-choice wicketkeeper who can seamlessly take over the gloves when Dhoni is rested.

CSK’s wicketkeeping depth extends beyond Samson. The franchise also has Urvil Patel as backup, along with 19-year-old Kartik Sharma – a ₹14.20 crore recruit who is being groomed as a future finisher alongside Shivam Dube  This embarrassment of riches behind the stumps gives CSK the tactical flexibility to preserve Dhoni for high-impact situations without compromising team balance.

3. Impact player rule reduces Dhoni’s batting workload

The Impact Player rule, which has been in effect over the past two IPL seasons, has fundamentally altered Dhoni’s role in the team. He has not been required extensively as a batter in the middle overs, with his appearances largely limited to situational cameos in the death overs.

This reduced batting workload has allowed Dhoni to conserve energy while still providing his invaluable presence on the field. The team management is likely to continue this approach in IPL 2026, deploying Dhoni primarily as a finisher in short bursts rather than expecting him to bat through extended innings.

Also READ: CSK recruit Rahul Chahar announces separation from wife Ishani Johar ahead of IPL 2026

The Chepauk guarantee: Dhoni to play all matches at home

While rotation is expected throughout the season, one factor appears certain: Dhoni will feature in all home matches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium  His presence at Chepauk remains an emotional and commercial draw, with the crowd’s energy often shifting momentum in CSK’s favour the moment he walks onto the field.

As IPL 2026 approaches, fans can expect to see Thala in yellow – just perhaps not in every single match. The strategy represents a sensible balance between maximising Dhoni’s impact and ensuring the 44-year-old legend remains fresh for the moments that matter most.

Also READ: EXPLAINED – Why CSK legend MS Dhoni has been ordered to pay INR 10 Lakh by Madras High Court?

Mumbai: The Congress’s decision to contest alone in most parts of Maharashtra during the recently concluded local body elections offered the party a mixed lesson. While the results fell short of expectations, leaders believed the solo run helped revive its fading grassroots network — a point that came up during Rahul Gandhi’s brief visit to Mumbai on Saturday. Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi visited Mumbai on Saturday, appeared before a court in Bhiwandi in connection with a criminal defamation case linked to remarks made during the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign, and held an unplanned meeting with senior Congress leaders in Mumbai during his spare time to review the party’s performance in the recently concluded local body elections. During the meeting, leaders told Gandhi that the solo run helped revive the party’s fading grassroots network. Leaders present said the discussion turned candid, with Gandhi expressing disappointment over the party’s electoral showing, particularly in urban pockets, including Mumbai.Gandhi, held a separate review meeting with Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal to assess organisational weaknesses and strength. He also spoke to Mumbai party chief Varsha Gaikwad about the party securing fewer seats in the city than anticipated. Party sources said leaders pointed to a severe lack of resources and organisational preparedness in several constituencies as a major reason for the underwhelming performance.Leaders said Gandhi instructed them to reconnect with people directly by taking up local civic issues and returning to street-level agitations. Internal politics also surfaced during the discussions. Several leaders raised concerns about seat-sharing decisions, particularly leaving certain crucial wards to the Prakash Ambedkar led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). A senior leader present said the Colaba area, where a relatives of the Assembly Speaker was contesting, an example of poor political judgement as the Congress given seats in that area to VBA, and leaders argued such decisions weakened the party’s local presence at prominent area and confused workers on the ground.Despite the disappointing results, Gandhi reportedly told party leader to expedite the alignments of local level party office bearer with an emphasis on strengthening booth-level committees, addressing civic grievances, and regaining credibility among voters by raising local public issues aggressively.

NEW DELHI: The expected surrender of CPI(Maoist) de-facto general secretary Thippiri Tirupahii alias Devji, alongside another central committee member Malla Raji Reddy alias Sangram, is like “the proverbial last nail in CPI(Maoist) coffin”, according to sources in the counter-Naxal establishment.Devji is likely to be joined by other cadres working closely with him as he comes overground and joins the mainstream – an announcement by the Telangana Police to this effect is expected on Tuesday or Wednesday. The remaining Maoist cadres – now believed to number around 300 across all affected areas, and mostly operating in disjointed groups of 10-12 each, in some cases even 4-5 – too may have little ideological baggage or stomach to continue facing bullets after their top leader throws his hat in the ring, according to a senior IPS officer engaged in anti-Maoist operations.Sangram, being in his seventies, was not known to be active of late, but his surrender, like Devji’s, signals the weakened hold of CPI(Maoist) ideology. Coming after the round of surrenders by politburo member Mallojula Venugopal alias Sonu, as also central committee members Chandranna, Ramder, Rupesh and Sujata, the latest one involving their top leader is seen as a potential signal to the Maoists still on the ground to toe the line. “With the top leadership, always dominated by Telugu veterans who once swore by the ideology of violent, Left-wing extremism, and motivated others to ‘fight and oppose’ the state, choosing pragmatism over ‘dying upholding the ideology’, the junior cadres will have no motivation to continue leading a difficult life in the jungles,” said an officer.With Devji and Sangram’s impending surrender, the only member of the top CPI(Maoist) politburo and central committee still active is Misir Besra. Besra, who looks after the eastern regional bureau of the CPI(Maoist), is the only non-Telugu face in the organisation’s decision-making hierarchy. He has been on the run since his close aide Anal da was killed in Jharkhand last month. Besra is possibly hiding along the Jharkhand-Odisha border, and the forces are on his trail. “Chances are that he will take a cue from Devji’s surrender and follow suit,” an officer said.Meanwhile, multiple operations are going on simultaneously along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana-Odisha-Jharkhand axis, to keep up pressure on the remaining Maoists to surrender or face neutralisation by the security forces.

NEW DELHI: Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock shared his assessment of India’s Super 8 defeat to the Proteas, saying the co-hosts failed to adjust to the conditions in Ahmedabad and did not recognise the “new ball challenge with the seam moving around.”South Africa ended India’s 12-match unbeaten run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a commanding 76-run victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

India made an early impact as Jasprit Bumrah delivered a superb opening spell of 2/7. However, the Proteas bounced back strongly through a 97-run stand off just 51 balls between David Miller and Dewald Brevis. Tristan Stubbs then provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 44 off 24 deliveries, powering South Africa past 180.“India didn’t adapt well to the conditions in Ahmedabad. South Africa had played three matches here already, so they knew what to expect. Yes, they struggled at first when they lost the wickets of Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton early, but they did not stop adjusting as per the conditions. It was only when Brevis and Miller batted together that things worked for them.“Tristan Stubbs put his batting power to good use in the end to help South Africa reach 187. India’s chase would have been simple had they played carefully in the beginning,” Pollock said.In reply, India never found momentum in the powerplay and slipped to 31/3 after six overs. South Africa maintained control over the strong Indian batting unit, eventually bowling them out for 111 in 18.5 overs.“The first six overs was the toughest because the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat nicely. Instead, they went after the bowlers from the very first over. You can’t do that on this kind of a pitch while chasing a big total. They lost two early wickets and were under pressure right away. Sometimes, you have to be smart and patient. India didn’t change their approach. They didn’t realise that the new ball would be the biggest challenge with the seam moving around,” he added.India must now win their remaining matches against Zimbabwe and the West Indies to keep their semi-final hopes alive, especially with their net run rate slipping to -3.8.

India’s T20 World Cup title defence suffered a significant setback after a crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa in a high-stakes Super 8 clash. The night had begun brightly for the hosts, who reduced the Proteas to 20/3 with a sharp new-ball burst. But what followed was a complete shift in momentum, driven by a calculated counter-attack in the middle overs.David Miller turned the tide with a commanding 63 off 35 deliveries, striking seven fours and three sixes. Calm and assured for most of his innings, he rebuilt South Africa’s total alongside Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs, steering the innings towards a competitive 187/7.However, Miller’s composure briefly slipped during a tense on-field exchange with Washington Sundar. The flashpoint came when Stubbs nudged a single to the leg side and Miller set off from the non-striker’s end. Sundar appeared unhappy, believing Miller had left his crease early before the ball was released, and immediately raised the matter with the umpire.

Miller responded by confronting Sundar, leading to a heated argument between the two. On-field umpire Chris Gaffaney stepped in to calm proceedings, and South Africa captain Aiden Markram later joined during the drinks interval to defuse the situation. The precise trigger for the disagreement remained unclear, and the tension did not resurface. Miller was dismissed shortly afterwards, briefly offering India hope.That hope faded quickly. Stubbs delivered a strong late flourish to lift the Proteas to 187, setting India a stiff target of 188.The chase unravelled almost instantly when the in-form Ishan Kishan fell for a duck. India never recovered. Partnerships were scarce, the required rate ballooned, and wickets tumbled steadily. Bowled out for 111, India slumped to a heavy 76-run loss, damaging their net run rate and leaving their Super 8 campaign hanging in the balance.