Chennai Super Kings’ Ayush Mhatre (AP Photo) India Under-19 World Cup captain and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman Ayush Mhatre has been ruled out of the ongoing IPL 2026 season after suffering a hamstring injury, causing a major setback to the franchise’s campaign.The young first-class batsman took to social media to share an emotional message for CSK fans, expressing his disappointment and determination to come back stronger after his recovery.“Disappointed that I won’t be able to contribute to @chennaiipl again in IPL 2026 but I promise to come back stronger,” Mhatre wrote in an Instagram caption while sharing photos from his season with CSK.
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Stephen Fleming on CSK’s overhaul, pressure player rule and impact on bowling He also thanked the fans and wished the team all the best for the rest of the tournament.“I wish the team all the best for the rest of the season. Thanks for all the support and encouragement,” he added.CSK officially confirmed his absence on Tuesday, saying that Mhatre picked up the injury during the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18. The franchise further elaborated on the recovery timeline.“Ayush Mhatre has been ruled out for the rest of IPL 2026 due to a left hamstring injury sustained while batting during the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18. Ayush’s injury will require a rehabilitation period of 6-12 weeks. We wish Ayush a speedy recovery,” CSK said in a statement.Mhatra’s absence adds to CSK’s growing injury concerns this season. He becomes the third player to be suspended from the team after Khaleel Ahmed and Nathan Ellis. Former MS captain Dhoni is also yet to feature in the tournament as he continues to recover from a calf injury sustained during pre-season training.Before the injury, Mhatre was CSK’s most consistent batsman this season. He scored 201 runs in six matches at an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of 177.88, emerging as their highest run-scorer in the campaign so far.CSK’s woes were further highlighted in their recent 10-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad, a result that pushed them up to seventh in the points table with four points from six matches. They next face Mumbai Indians on Thursday, looking to bounce back amid a difficult run of form and mounting injury setbacks.
