Since 2008, the player has missed only eight IPL matches, but never one versus KKR

On Tuesday evening, i.e., April 14, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will host the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at their home stadium. Despite sharing eight IPL trophies, both teams are at the bottom of the table, with CSK in seventh and KKR in eighth. Their present condition is due to multiple factors, ranging from poor auction strategy and questionable captaincy to players missing games due to injury.

Speaking about players missing, do you know one Chennai player has never missed a game versus the Riders since the tournament’s inception in 2008?

Consistency at peak

The player in question has missed only 8 games since the IPL began. In 2010, he missed three games due to an arm injury. The heavy hitter missed the games against Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

After nine years, i.e., in 2019, he missed two matches – one against the Sunrisers Hyderabad due to a back spasm and the other due to a fever.

Three and counting

Ruturaj Gaikwad On MS Dhoni: "For those asking about MS Dhoni, he's at the hotel watching and supporting us. But yes, very soon, you'll see him out on the ground."

When will it happen, Ruturaj bro? I can't wait anymore!#CSKvsDC #DCvsCSK pic.twitter.com/myv1EGWhgo

— Aryan⁵⁶ (@MStark_56) April 11, 2026

By now, readers must’ve guessed correctly that the player is none other than Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has missed the first four games in the ongoing season. As far as batting is concerned, Dhoni has gone slow in the last few days with the willow, but his advice to captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been priceless, and it seems Dhoni’s words are being missed on the field. Unfortunately, Dhoni is unlikely to return against KKR, a team against whom he has never missed a match.

Subramaniam Badrinath’s statement

(Credit- Cricket Times)

On his YouTube channel, former CSK player Subramaniam Badrinath revealed, “It's a million-dollar question on whether MS Dhoni will return against KKR. He has started batting, and the team management itself isn't sure about his return, according to Sridharan Sriram. He is being assessed day by day on his likely return. Dhoni is probably not coming to the ground to ensure the attention doesn't fall on him,” as quoted by Sports Tak.

Dhoni’s record vs. KKR

#OnThisDay in 2021, Chennai Super Kings clinched their fourth IPL title, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in the Dubai final.

It marked a perfect redemption for MS Dhoni and his men, who made a remarkable comeback after failing to qualify for the playoffs in the… pic.twitter.com/UwMkKL1hp1

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 15, 2025

As the CSK captain, Dhoni led the team in 30 matches against KKR, winning 19 of them, with one ending in a draw. Last season, even though Gaikwad had taken over the captaincy, Dhoni led CSK in both matches against KKR. With the bat, he made 464 runs in 24 innings at an average of 35.69 and a strike rate of 131.82.

With the number of matches dwindling, both CSK and KKR need their missing players to turn the tournament around. Unfortunately, a quicker return seems unlikely, and both sides will have to do with whatever resources they have at hand.