Three games into IPL 2026 and Chennai Super Kings are in a genuine crisis. Three losses. No MS Dhoni. Seven consecutive defeats as a unit under Ruturaj Gaikwad’s captaincy. And now Gaikwad himself standing at the press conference admitting his side are not taking their chances when it matters.

Dhoni Is “Getting Back Slowly” — No Timeline

Ruturaj Gaikwad was asked about Dhoni at the toss before the RCB clash at Chinnaswamy on Sunday, and his response carried none of the certainty that CSK fans were hoping for.

> “MS is getting back slowly. Sometimes it takes time. If he’s ready to play, it’ll be soon.”

The official CSK statement from March 28 had said Dhoni would miss “the first two weeks” of the tournament. Those two weeks have now passed — RCB away was the fourth game on that projected list — and Dhoni was still not available. His known fitness history adds context: he has had persistent knee problems since his surgery after IPL 2023, and the calf strain complicates his rehabilitation timeline further.

The next CSK game is against Delhi Capitals at Chepauk on April 11 — a home ground that guarantees maximum fan support. Whether Dhoni returns there is unclear, but it is the most likely scenario for his first appearance of the season.

> “If he’s ready to play, it’ll be soon.”

That caveat — “if” — is the word CSK fans should be watching most carefully.

Three Matches, Three Losses, Seven in a Row

The scale of CSK’s early-season collapse needs to be stated plainly.

  • Match 1 vs RR, Guwahati: Bundled out for 127, chased down in 12.1 overs — eight-wicket loss

  • Match 2 vs PBKS, Chennai: Posted 209/5 (Ayush Mhatre 73 off 43 balls) but bowling gave away 210 — five-wicket loss

  • Match 3 vs RCB, Bengaluru: Chose to bowl, conceded 250/3; replied with 207 all out — 43-run loss

Gaikwad’s run as CSK captain now stands at seven consecutive defeats. He stood in front of the cameras on Sunday night and accepted personal responsibility for the RCB defeat.

“I think the momentum really shifted when Tim David and Patidar came in. We could have been sharper in the field, and we didn’t take our chances. A lot of mistakes. I’ll take responsibility for that.”

Sanju Samson’s Struggles Are Adding to the Problem

One of the themes running through all three defeats is that Sanju Samson — the marquee trade-deal signing brought in primarily as the player for CSK’s present and future — has flopped in all three games. After opening against RR and getting dismissed cheaply in Guwahati, he was dismissed again early in Chennai against PBKS and then again at Chinnaswamy on Sunday. Three outings as CSK’s most expensive asset, three low scores.

The batting order has also shifted around uncomfortably. Gaikwad had confirmed before the season that he and Samson would open — but that was quickly reconsidered, and CSK have not found a settled combination at the top yet.

What Needs to Happen

CSK need multiple things to go right at once — Dhoni to return and provide that tactical and death-overs contribution, Samson to find form with the bat, and their bowling to be more disciplined in the final five overs. They face Delhi Capitals at Chepauk on April 11, with Jacob Duffy — who took 3 wickets in the RCB chase on Sunday — the one bowler who has been consistently effective.