MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Injured As IPL 2026 Faces Major Fitness Crisis
IPL 2026 was already dealing with many injured and unavailable players even before the first ball was bowled. Now, the situation looks even more tense with three of India’s biggest icons – MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – all carrying fitness issues.
MS Dhoni has not yet played this season because of a calf strain, Kohli has picked up an ankle problem, and Rohit has suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to retire hurt. Together, their injuries have turned IPL 2026 into one of the most story‑heavy seasons in recent memory.
MS Dhoni’s calf strain keeps him out
Chennai Super Kings confirmed before the season that MS Dhoni is undergoing rehab for a calf strain picked up in the lead‑up to IPL 2026. According to team and media updates, the 44‑year‑old wicketkeeper‑batter was ruled out of at least the first two weeks of the tournament.
Reports say Dhoni injured his calf while batting in the nets before the season and has been working with the medical staff in Chennai. He has started light training and even had a few batting sessions, but the franchise has been careful and has not rushed him back into the playing eleven. Some former teammates have even suggested that the injury has become a long‑term issue because his calf has taken extra load over the years.
For now, Ruturaj Gaikwad continues to lead CSK without Dhoni in the line‑up, while fans see only the yellow No. 7 jersey in the dugout and on practice days. Dhoni also features on the official injured‑and‑unavailable list for IPL 2026 as “ruled out for the first two weeks” with a calf strain.
Virat Kohli’s ankle scare in MI vs RCB
Virat Kohli’s fitness became a major talking point after Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s high‑scoring clash against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede. He scored a fifty with the bat but did not take the field in the second innings, which immediately raised questions.
Commentators and later multiple reports confirmed that Kohli had suffered an ankle issue during RCB’s innings. He was seen getting treatment on his leg and, after his dismissal, stayed inside the dressing room wearing a jacket instead of going back onto the field. RCB used another player in the field while Kohli rested.
After the match, stand‑in captain Rajat Patidar said that the extent of Kohli’s injury was still not clear and that keeping him off the field was more of a safety step. Reports since then have described it as an ankle injury, with more updates expected as the medical staff finish full checks. In short, Kohli has an active injury concern, even if his final return timeline is yet to be confirmed.
Rohit Sharma retires hurt with hamstring issue
In the same blockbuster MI vs RCB game, Mumbai Indians opener Rohit Sharma also suffered an injury that shocked viewers. While chasing a huge target of 241, Rohit started briskly and reached 19 off 13 balls, but then he clearly struggled while running between the wickets.
He received on‑field treatment for his right hamstring but still looked in pain, and soon after he had to walk off retired hurt. Cameras showed his discomfort, and several reports later confirmed that it was a hamstring issue, something he has dealt with at different stages since 2020. He did not return to bat as MI eventually fell short in the chase.
Since that night, there has been concern around how serious the hamstring problem is and how many games he might miss. So far, team and media updates have focused mainly on the immediate match situation, but it is clear that Rohit is now added to the list of IPL 2026 injury worries.
Long IPL 2026 injury list grows
Even before these setbacks to Dhoni, Kohli and Rohit, IPL 2026 was already facing a long list of injured and unavailable players across teams. More than a dozen cricketers have either been ruled out completely, are missing the early part of the season, or are carrying doubts over their fitness.
Fast bowler Harshit Rana (KKR) is out for the season after knee surgery, while Sam Curran (RR) and Jack Edwards (SRH) have also been ruled out because of injuries. Nathan Ellis (CSK) aggravated a hamstring injury and will not take part in IPL 2026, and Wanindu Hasaranga (LSG) has been replaced after being declared unavailable.
Besides this, several players are fit but missing matches for other reasons. Mitchell Starc (DC) and Pat Cummins (SRH) are expected to join only later in the season because of workload and back issues, while Lockie Ferguson (PBKS) has stayed back home for family reasons. In addition, Josh Hazlewood (RCB) has not yet been fully available after previous hamstring and Achilles problems.
Replacement signings across teams
Because so many players have been ruled out or delayed, franchises have had to dip into the replacement market even before the halfway mark of the tournament. The league rules allow teams to sign replacements for injured or unavailable players until their 12th league game, which has given managements some breathing space.
Kolkata Knight Riders, for example, brought in Saurabh Dubey after Akash Deep and Harshit Rana were ruled out, strengthening their local pace options. Chennai Super Kings replaced Nathan Ellis with left‑arm quick Spencer Johnson to keep balance in their attack. Rajasthan Royals turned to Dasun Shanaka after Sam Curran was ruled out, while Lucknow Super Giants signed George Linde as cover for Wanindu Hasaranga.
Sunrisers Hyderabad have also moved for left‑arm seamer David Payne after Jack Edwards was ruled out of the season. On top of that, teams like Gujarat Titans and others have made smaller squad tweaks, including changes among domestic bowlers such as Prithviraj Yarra being replaced by Kulwant Khejroliya. All these changes show how IPL 2026 squads are being reshaped week by week.
CSK’s double concern: no Dhoni, no Ellis
Chennai Super Kings have been hit at both ends of their line‑up. At the batting and leadership end, MS Dhoni is missing because of his calf strain, and at the bowling end, Nathan Ellis has been ruled out of the entire season with a hamstring injury.
CSK responded by confirming Spencer Johnson as Ellis’ replacement to maintain depth in their pace stocks. However, Dhoni’s absence is harder to cover, as he brings wicketkeeping skills and middle‑order experience, even though Ruturaj Gaikwad now captains the side. With Dhoni officially listed as out for at least the first two weeks, CSK’s early matches have gone ahead without one of their biggest names on the team sheet.
RCB watching both Hazlewood and Kohli
Royal Challengers Bengaluru came into IPL 2026 knowing that fast bowler Josh Hazlewood might miss the early part of the season as he still worked back from previous injuries. Now, Kohli’s ankle issue adds another fitness question to their campaign.
Hazlewood was already on the list of “to miss early games” in pre‑season injury trackers, and RCB had to build their bowling plans around that. Kohli, on the other hand, has been central to the batting, making his ankle scare during the MI clash one of the most talked‑about moments of the season so far. For now, team comments suggest that the decision to keep him off the field was mainly to avoid further risk, but it still counts as a notable injury worry.
Mumbai Indians monitor Rohit’s hamstring
Mumbai Indians’ injury chart already included domestic all‑rounder Atharva Ankolekar, who has been ruled out of IPL 2026 with a knee injury. Rohit Sharma’s hamstring problem during the RCB game adds a fresh layer of concern to their season.
Rohit looked in fine touch before he had to seek treatment on his right hamstring, and his decision to retire hurt underlined the discomfort he was feeling. Given his past history with similar injuries, every update on his condition is now being followed closely by media and experts. Until he is fully back in the middle for a full match, the hamstring will remain one of the key IPL 2026 injury stories.
A season shaped by fitness updates
From Dhoni missing the start of the tournament to fresh concerns around Virat Kohli’s ankle and Rohit Sharma’s hamstring, IPL 2026 has turned into a season where fitness news is almost as regular as match scores. Alongside them, a long list of Indian and overseas stars have been ruled out, delayed, or replaced, forcing teams to constantly adjust their playing elevens.
Every new game now seems to bring not only runs and wickets but also fresh medical updates from dugouts and team statements, keeping IPL 2026 firmly under the shadow of injuries.
