Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings have been hit with a spate of injuries as they build up for their 2026 season opener against Rajasthan Royals. Pacer Nathan Ellis has already withdrawn from the squad due to an injury.
MS Dhoni has also not travelled with the squad to Guwahati for the match against RR as he is recovering from a calf strain. Multiple reports suggest that the veteran's return could be delayed up until the end of April. And in yet another setback, Dewlad Brevis will not take field against RR as he has suffered a side strain.
Amid the crisis of several key players getting injured, there is some hope for the CSK fans as they will get to see Sanju Samson in action. The hard-hitting wicketkeeper batter was traded to CSK from RR in a deal that saw all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran go the other way.
As Chennai and Rajasthan look to get their 2026 campaign underway, CSK CEO Kasi Vishwanathan has confirmed that Samson will be keeping wickets in Dhoni's absence.
"See, obviously, Sanju will be keeping because MS Dhoni is not going to play. Sanju's form is great and he's been knocking well in the nets also. So we're hoping that he'll give the impact that CSK is looking for during the current season," Vishwanathan said in an interview to sports news portal Rev Sportz. "Of course, we have Ruturaj, who is also capable of taking the team to higher levels, and his captaincy is one which definitely will lift the team."
"As far as Sanju is concerned, we don't want to put any pressure on him because we know his capabilities. I have not spent much time talking to Sanju, as I met him only a couple of days back, and during practice, I would never go and disturb him. I'm very confident that Sanju, with his abilities and his form, will be a great bet for us," he added.
Samson played a pivotal role in India's successful 2026 ICC T20 World Cup campaign, hammering three consecutive half-centuries and earned the Player of the Match award along the way.
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