The Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is nearing the halfway stage as teams have played six matches in the competition so far. Sanju Samson-starrer Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have made a tough start to their campaign by winning 2 games so far in the league. The men in yellow are also struggling with injuries.
The team’s most in-form batsman Ayush Mhatre has recently been out of the team due to a hamstring injury and before that Khalil Ahmed was also out. The team’s star cricketer and the face of the CSK franchise, MS Dhoni, has not yet recovered from the calf muscle strain suffered during the pre-season. Dhoni has started practicing wicketkeeping in the nets; However, there is no clarity on his return.
Sanju Samson on joining CSK, it is a very different feeling for me
CSK will take on Mumbai Indians (MI) in their upcoming match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Ahead of the MI vs CSK clash, the team’s star batsman Sanju Samson has shared his feelings about playing for the five-time champions and how Dhoni’s presence affects the team. MI vs CSK match is scheduled to take place on April 23, 2026.
“A very different feeling for me… a very star-studded kind of franchise that I am involved in these days. So I feel a little more responsible. I can’t throw my wicket away easily,” Sanju Samson said at an event.
“Soon after you bowl your wicket, you’re entering the airport and people say, ‘Chetta, play more carefully.’
Base values on MS Dhoni’s impact set by Mahi Bhai-Samson
Sanju Samson said, “Being a championship team doesn’t mean behaving like champions or being arrogant or anything like that. The core values have been set by Mahi Bhai, and you can really feel them in every team player and support staff.”
Sanju Samson has scored 115 and 48 runs in 6 matches for the franchise. He has not been able to show anything special for his new franchise. Samson has taken over the captaincy in the absence of MS Dhoni. Dhoni is said to be coming back for the MI game and it will be interesting to see who takes over the wicketkeeping duties.
Will Ruturaj Gaikwad be dismissed from the post of captain?
Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been struggling with form as he has not been able to cross the 30-run mark in the tournament, with his highest score being 28. He needs to score some runs and get his confidence back, because his captaincy has also not been good. He may change the leadership duties if Ruturaj fails to take the team to the playoffs.
Like the previous season, Chennai finished bottom of the table with only four wins and 10 losses; This was their worst season in IPL history. This season looks set to end in a similar manner as playoff chances remain slim for the men in yellow. They need big changes to qualify for the next round.
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