Ravichandran Ashwin revealed CSK's preferred playing XI after MS Dhoni's injury update hit the IPL 2026 on Saturday, March 28. Two days before Chennai's opening game against Rajasthan Royals, the franchise confirmed Dhoni's absence for the first two weeks due to a calf strain.

Having already lost their premier pacer Nathan Ellis to injury, MS Dhoni's news came as another shocker for the fans. The team has no dearth of quality backup wicketkeepers after the arrival of Sanju Samson and Kartik Sharma this season, but the former captain's presence on the field will be a big miss for the five-time IPL champions.

With fans wondering about CSK's potential playing eleven in MS Dhoni's absence, the former franchise star Ravichandran Ashwin revealed his ideal team for the two weeks. Ashwin picked the 19-year-old wicketkeeper batter Kartik Sharma, who cost a whopping INR 14.2 crore in the IPL 2026 auction, in the No. 7 position, where Dhoni was expected to bat this season.

Notably, India's bowling legend drafted another youngster, Urvil Patel, at No. 3 ahead of Ayush Mhatre. Ashwin also picked in-form Sarfaraz Khan ahead of India's U19 captain Ayush Mhatre in No. 5.

In bowling, Ashwin surprised CSK fans by selecting overseas spinners Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein ahead of Prashant Veer, who was signed for INR 14.20 crore in the auction. Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed are fast bowlers in Ashwin's ideal playing eleven, with Anshul Kamboj, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Rahul Chahar, and Shreyas Gopal coming in as impact players.

"So!! This should be ideal," R Ashwin wrote on X. "Ruturaj, Samson, Urvil, Brevis, Dube, Sarfaraz/Ayush, Kartik Sharma, Akeal, Noor, Henry, Khaleel, Kamboj/Ghosh/Rahul/Gopal. After 2 weeks, there will be enough info available to tweak if needed."

CSK's ideal playing XI from R Ashwin: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson, Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Sarfaraz Khan/Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma (wk), Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed.

Impact players: Anshul Kamboj, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Rahul Chahar, Shreyas Gopal.

CSK's updated squad for IPL 2026

Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brewis, Shivam Dube, Urvil Patel (wk), Noor Ahmad, Spencer Johnson, Shreyas Gopal, Khaleel Ahmed, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Mukesh Choudhary, Jamie Overton, Gurjapneet Singh, Anshul Kamboj, Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma (wk), Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Zak Foulkes.

Also read: Dhoni likely to miss opening games of IPL 2026, CSK confirm

When did MS Dhoni last miss IPL match?

MS Dhoni holds the record for most appearances in IPL history, with 278 matches in 18 seasons. Despite nearing 45, the former Indian captain has been a regular in CSK's playing XI in recent years.

Dhoni featured in CSK's all 14 games in 2025 and is now set to miss his first IPL match in six years. The legendary wicketkeeper last missed an IPL match during the IPL 2019. He sat out of two matches due to a fever and back spasm.

Before 2019, MS Dhoni missed three games in 2010 due to an arm injury he suffered on the field. So, overall, the CSK legend has missed only five IPL matches before getting ruled out of the IPL 2026 for the opening two weeks.