Ruturaj Gaikwad Breaks Silence On MS Dhoni’s IPL Future After CSK Exit

Ruturaj Gaikwad addressed MS Dhoni’s uncertain IPL future after Chennai Super Kings crashed out of IPL 2026 following a heavy defeat against Gujarat Titans.

Chennai Super Kings’ disappointing IPL 2026 campaign came to an end after a crushing 89-run defeat against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. GT piled up a massive 229/4 before their bowlers dismantled the CSK batting lineup with ease.

Mohammed Siraj gave Gujarat the perfect start by dismissing Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Urvil Patel in his fiery opening spell. Shivam Dube fought back with an aggressive knock, but Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada cleaned up the remaining batters to seal a dominant victory for Gujarat.

The defeat confirmed Chennai as the third team to be eliminated from IPL 2026, ending a season heavily impacted by injuries and inconsistency.

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Injuries Keep MS Dhoni Out Of IPL 2026

A major talking point throughout the season remained MS Dhoni’s fitness and possible return to action. The legendary former CSK skipper missed the campaign after initially suffering a calf injury before later injuring his thumb as well.

Apart from those setbacks, Dhoni has also continued to struggle with a long-term knee issue, raising constant doubts about his future in the IPL. With Chennai missing the playoffs and Dhoni unavailable throughout the season, questions surrounding his retirement and comeback only intensified.

Ruturaj Gaikwad Gives Update On Dhoni’s Future

Following the loss against Gujarat Titans, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was asked about Dhoni’s availability for IPL 2027. While the skipper avoided giving a direct answer, he admitted that the franchise badly missed the veteran finisher this season.

“You and I’ll get to know it next year. It’s a hard miss for us. He (MS Dhoni) can come in those late overs and change the game just by staying in the crease. Never know about next season but really happy with the guys we have,” Ruturaj Gaikwad said in the post-match presentation after CSK’s final game.

Gaikwad also hinted that Chennai Super Kings are slowly entering a rebuilding phase with a younger core of players taking over the side.

“Not many people buy the fact that we are a young team in transition , with a lot of inexperienced players. More than 8-10 players have played less than 20 games, they’ve gotten exposure, we’ve found out what areas we’re lacking. We still got six away wins, proud of the unit,” Ruturaj Gaikwad on CSK’s transition phase.

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