Chennai Super Kings have been eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoffs after a crushing 89-run defeat to the Gujarat Titans. The season was also marked by the complete absence of MS Dhoni, who missed every match due to multiple injuries, leaving his future for the IPL 2027 season a major question.
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) concluded their IPL 2026 campaign on a disappointing note after an 89-run thumping by the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday night, May 21.
With their crushing defeat at the hands of GT, CSK are officially out of the race for the playoffs. The five-time IPL champions were already on the brink of elimination after a defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 18. Entering the final league fixture, CSK had already suffered back-to-back losses against the Lucknow Super Giants and SRH, leaving them with absolutely no room for error.
The heavy 89-run defeat to the Gujarat Titans has officially ended the Chennai Super Kings' aspirations for a record-extending sixth IPL title. CSK finished their league stage with six wins in 14 outings, earning 12 points and having a NRR of -0.345, a reflection of the severe margins by which they lost their final fixtures.
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MS Dhoni, Misses the Entire IPL 2026
As the Chennai Super Kings’ campaign officially came to an end with a defeat to the Gujarat Titans, the former captain and legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni missed the entire tournament without playing a single match. Fans who had packed stadiums across the country in anticipation of a potential swansong were left disappointed as the 44-year-old veteran spent the 2026 season on the sidelines.
Initially, the five-time IPL-winning captain was ruled out for two weeks due to a calf injury ahead of the CSK’s opening match against the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. However, the veteran cricketer twisted his injured calf, as revealed by head coach Stephen Fleming, further delaying his return to action.
MS Dhoni was supposed to make a comeback in a crucial clash against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk, which was the CSK’s final home game of the season. However, a freak thumb injury during the net session shattered those plans entirely, ensuring he wouldn't face a single ball in the 2026 edition. It was a devastating blow for the franchise, ruling out any possibility of a dramatic late-season rescue act.
Ahead of the Chennai Super Kings’ final league match against the Gujarat Titans, MS Dhoni headed back to his home in Ranchi to recover from his thumb injury and would rejoin the squad if they qualified for the playoffs. However, with GT putting an absolute chokehold on Chennai's batting lineup, those qualification hopes were brutally extinguished.
Dhoni’s early departure from Chennai for Ranchi effectively meant his season concluded from his living room rather than from a packed stadium dugout.
Will MS Dhoni Return for IPL 2027?
Since MS Dhoni didn’t play a single match throughout the IPL 2026, the question looms over his participation in the next IPL season, as he will turn 45 by the time the IPL 2027 season rolls around.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Ruturaj Gaikwad was asked whether the legendary wicketkeeper-batter would play in the next IPL season. In response, the CSK captain stated that he doesn’t have a definitive answer yet, leaving the decision entirely up to the veteran icon. He also acknowledged the huge void left by the former captain’s absence, especially in pressure situations.
“Obviously, you will get to know it next year itself. Even I'll get to know it next year itself,” Gaikwad said.
“It's a hard, hard miss for us, definitely. He's someone who can have a fear in the opposition, especially coming in those late overs. Can really change the game, can really change the momentum just by staying at the crease. So, he's someone, definitely we missed a lot this season,” he added.
It remains to be seen whether MS Dhoni will decide to extend his storied career for one more year or if this injury-forced absence marks the unceremonious end of his playing days.
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