Chennai Super Kings’ iconic figure MS Dhoni, alongside current skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and several teammates, marked the official start of IPL 2026 preparations with their first practice session in Chennai on Sunday. The five-time champions launched their pre-season camp at the franchise’s high-performance center, drawing a strong contingent of Indian domestic players.
Among those reporting for duty were promising talents like Ayush Mhatre, Mukesh Choudhary, Rahul Chahar, Urvil Patel, Ramkrishna Ghosh, and Sarfaraz Khan. The team shared exciting clips from the session, capturing Dhoni and Gaikwad honing their batting skills in adjacent nets. Newly signed players Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma also joined the drills, integrating seamlessly into the group.
In one highlight, Sarfaraz Khan was spotted intently observing Dhoni’s net session, while Gaikwad looked in fine rhythm. The current phase of the camp focuses on Indian domestic players, with those on national duty slated to join later. India’s international stars Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, currently competing in the T20 World Cup, are expected to link up after the tournament concludes on March 7.
Karnataka’s Shreyas Gopal, fresh from his Ranji Trophy final campaign, will also report soon. Assisting with oversight are assistant coaches Sridharan Sriram and Rajiv Kumar, plus strength and conditioning coach Greg King. Overseas players and coaching staff are yet to arrive.
Earlier that day, CSK unveiled their new jerseys for the upcoming cash-rich extravaganza. However, uncertainties loom due to ongoing Middle East conflicts, which could impact international players’ travel timelines. Clarity on schedules and the final fixture list remains pending, but T20 World Cup participants will join post their commitments.
The full CSK squad boasts a balanced mix: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Short, Sanju Samson, MS Dhoni, Urvil Patel, Kartik, Shivam Dube, Jack Edwards, Ramkrishna Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Jamie Overton, Akil Hussain, Aman Khan, Veer, Noor Ahmad, Rahul Chahar, Khaleel Ahmad, Nathan Ellis, Matt Henry, Gurjapneet Singh, Anshul Kamboj, and Mukesh Choudhary. Fans are buzzing with anticipation as the Yellow Brigade gears up for another title charge.