Three eras of Indian T20 cricket came together in one picture as MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav were captured during a training session ahead of the IPL 2026 clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians in Chepauk on May 2. The image quickly went viral, not just for the moment, but for what it represented.
These are India’s three T20 World Cup captains across generations. Dhoni led the country to the inaugural title in 2007, Rohit followed it up in 2024 and Suryakumar added the crown in 2026. Three timelines, one frame.
What made the image stand out even more is the context of their current IPL seasons. None of the three have had a smooth campaign so far, with fitness and form issues shaping their stories.
WHY MS DHONI IS NOT PLAYING IPL 2026?
Dhoni’s absence has been one of the biggest points for CSK this season.
The former India and CSK captain has been ruled out with a calf injury and has yet to feature in the IPL. CSK confirmed early on that he will miss the opening phase of the tournament, but even as the weeks pass, his return remains uncertain.
There was fresh anticipation before the upcoming games, especially in Chepauk, but Dhoni was again left out of the playing XI. Reports also suggested that he was careful not to upset the team’s balance unless he was fully fit.
CSK, currently sixth in the table with six points and a net run of -0.121, feels this absence especially in pressure moments. Whether Dhoni will return against MI remains unclear.
WHY ROHIT SHARMA NOT PLAYING IN IPL 2026?
Rohit is in a similar situation, injuries are keeping him out of the game.
The MI opener has now missed four consecutive matches, including the recent clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has been sidelined since April 12 after suffering a hamstring injury against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
There was some hope when Rohit was seen practicing in the nets before the recent matches, but MI captain Hardik Pandya confirmed at the toss that he needs even more time to make a comeback.
This has left a gap at the top for MI who are already struggling this season. His availability for the CSK clash is still not guaranteed.
HOW WAS SURYAKUMARA YADAV’S FORM IN IPL 2026?
Unlike Dhoni and Rohit, Suryakumar played but the runs didn’t quite follow.
He has scored 162 runs in eight innings this season at an average of 20.25 and a strike rate of 140.87, figures that are well below his usual standards. His last six scores were 6, 33, 0, 15, 36 and 5, showing a pattern of no-impact starts.
The most recent example came against SRH where he came in after a strong platform was built but only managed 5 off 5 balls. For a player who is expected to dominate the middle overs, this phase has been a problem for MI.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
May 1, 2026 10:57 PM IST
