One of the biggest news before the start of 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) The team will be without its talisman and former captain MS Dhoni for at least the first two weeks of the season.
Dhoni's absence leaves a big void for CSK to fill as they need to find a replacement not only for the lower-order batsman but also for a wicketkeeper. The latter shouldn't be much of a problem following the signing of Sanju Samson as part of a trade deal with Rajasthan Royals. Despite the lack of their superstar player, it now opens up an opportunity for other players to fill the void and showcase their talent in front of the watching world before Dhoni returns to the CSK setup.
Here are three players who may get a chance in MS Dhoni's absence:
3. Karik Sharma
Karthik Sharma The 2026 IPL season will carry a lot of expectations on its shoulders. This young player from Rajasthan was bought for Rs 14.20 crore in the recent mini auction. With Dhoni now unavailable for the first few matches, Karthik may get a place in CSK's 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 if the five-time champions decide to keep Samson as an outfield player, he can be trusted with the gloves, where he is an equally good fielder. However, Karthik is a middle-order batsman and cannot be a replacement for Dhoni, who is a finisher.
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