Why were MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma not playing in the IPL 2026 El Clasico?

MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma were not playing in the IPL 2026 El Clasico due to injuries. Dhoni was recovering from a calf injury, and Rohit was dealing with a hamstring issue.

What are the current standings for MI and CSK in IPL 2026?

Both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are in the bottom half of the IPL 2026 table, having secured only two wins from their six matches played so far.

Did CSK make any player changes for the El Clasico match?

Yes, Chennai Super Kings made one change, bringing in Prashant Veer in place of Matt Short for the El Clasico match.

Home / Sports / Dhoni & Rohit Out! IPL El Clasico Sees Surprise Absences

Dhoni & Rohit Out! IPL El Clasico Sees Surprise Absences

23 Apr

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Summary

Dhoni and Rohit Sharma were absent from the IPL 2026 El Clasico match.
Both players are recovering from calf and hamstring injuries respectively.
CSK and MI, successful IPL teams, are in the bottom half of the table.

Dhoni & Rohit Out! IPL El Clasico Sees Surprise Absences

The first IPL 2026 'El Clasico' match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) took place without two of its biggest stars, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. Both players are currently out due to injuries, with Dhoni recovering from a calf injury and Rohit from a hamstring issue. This absence was confirmed prior to the match at the Wankhede Stadium.

Despite Dhoni being seen batting and keeping in the nets, his return was not cleared by the medical team. Similarly, Rohit Sharma, who suffered his injury on April 12, had returned to training but was deemed not fully ready. This marks a significant moment for the IPL, as these two teams, each holding five titles, are currently positioned in the bottom half of the league table with only two wins from six matches this season.