MS Dhoni ruled out for 2 weeks: 3 CSK players who could replace him

In one of the biggest news ahead of the start of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be without their talisman and former skipper, MS Dhoni, for at least the first two weeks of the season. 

The absence of Dhoni leaves a huge void to fill for CSK as they need to find a replacement for not only a hard-hitting lower-order batter but also a wicketkeeper. The latter should not be much of a problem following the signing of Sanju Samson as part of a trade deal from Rajasthan Royals. Despite missing their superstar player, it now opens up an opportunity for other players to fill in the void and showcase their talents in front of the watching world before Dhoni returns to the CSK setup.

Here are the three players who can get chance in MS Dhoni's absence:

3. Karik Sharma

Kartik Sharma comes into the 2026 IPL season with a whole lot of expectations on his shoulders. The Rajasthan youngster was bought for an eye-opening INR 14.20 crore in the most recent mini auction. With Dhoni now unavailable for the first few games, Kartik can find a place in the CSK middle order.

The 19-year-old played five times in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored at a strike-rate of 160.24. He is also an adequate wicketkeeper and could be trusted with the gloves should the five-time champions decide to keep Samson as an outfield player, where he is an equally good fielder. Kartik, however, is a middle-order batter and might not be a like-for-like replacement for Dhoni, who is a finisher.