When Chennai Super Kings begin IPL 2026 against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati, it will be a first in the team’s history: CSK will be on the field without either Dhoni or Raina in the starting eleven. This is significant both in what it represents to fans and how it will affect their strategy.
Historical significance and records
Since the IPL started, MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina have been the most important players for CSK. Dhoni has played in 278 IPL games, scoring 5439 runs and averaging 38.30 runs per innings. Raina played in 205 matches, getting 5528 runs with an average of 32.52.
For almost twenty years, these two have been CSK. Dhoni led the team to five IPL championships in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023. Raina was part of four of those winning teams (though he wasn’t with them in 2023 as the team was changing how it picked its leaders).
Up to now, CSK has played 77 games without Raina and five without Dhoni. But they’ve never had a starting lineup that doesn’t include both of them. Monday’s game will be the first of 277 Twenty20 matches (including 24 Champions League Twenty20 games) without Dhoni or Raina.
What changed for the IPL 2026 opener in Guwahati
Dhoni will be getting treatment for a pulled calf muscle for the first two weeks of IPL 2026. The team said briefly that he’ll probably be unable to play for at least the first part of the season, and they wish him a quick recovery.
Suresh Raina stopped playing all kinds of cricket on September 6, 2022. He played for CSK for the last time in the 2021 IPL, making 160 runs in 12 games. He wasn’t bought by any team at the big 2022 auction and decided to retire after that.
Because of this, the very obvious result is that CSK will begin the season without two of their most famous players. The game against Rajasthan Royals will test how much depth and how flexible the team is, rather than just how much things are continuing as they have been.
Leadership, team composition, and youth focus
Dhoni has only missed five IPL matches since 2008, showing how often he’s played and how sturdy he’s been. With him out, the younger players on CSK will have to take on more responsibility both when they’re playing and in general. The team has been looking for new, promising players, and they’ll have to show what they can do sooner than expected.
The more experienced players and the coaches will be in charge of captaining and making decisions during the game. CSK does have people who can do this, but they will miss Dhoni’s ability to understand the flow of the game and his strong leadership, particularly when the pressure is on.
Batters and bowlers who aren’t usually the first choice will be expected to do more during the first six overs of the innings (the powerplay) and at the very end (the death overs). Several of the younger players have a chance in the game in Guwahati to prove they deserve a regular place in the team and to show the franchise that they can move forward without Dhoni and Raina.
Statistical context and recent form
Both CSK and RR did poorly in IPL 2025, getting only eight points and being eliminated early in the tournament. Rajasthan finished ninth, and Chennai finished tenth. RR haven’t won the title since they won the very first IPL in 2008.
The last time Dhoni missed an IPL game was in 2019 because he wasn’t well; in that season Raina captained for one match. Dhoni has captained in 235 IPL games (the most of anyone), and he’s won five championships – the same number as any other team.
Looking ahead: short-term impact and season outlook
Dhoni is expected to be back in mid to late April, depending on how well his calf responds to treatment. This means CSK needs to find a way to be stable without him for at least the first few games.
This is both a difficult situation and a good opportunity for the team. They need to be realistic about what they can achieve while also helping the younger players improve quickly. How fast CSK adjusts will affect where they are in the standings early on and will set the mood for the whole season.
For the fans, the opening game is a reminder that all the great players eventually retire or step back, and new leaders have to come forward. How CSK does in Guwahati will be the first clear sign of how the five-time champions plan to continue.
