How would Dhoni come then?

Former India player Aakash Chopra has highlighted the Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) selection dilemma heading into their IPL 2026 clash against the Mumbai Indians (MI). He noted that the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side would not be able to accommodate MS Dhoni in the playing combination if they bring in Urvil Patel as the injured Ayush Mhatre’s replacement and persist with Matthew Short at No. 4.

CSK will face MI in Match 33 of IPL 2026 in Mumbai on Thursday, April 23. The visitors would have to make at least one change in their playing combination as Mhatre has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament due to a hamstring injury.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India batter noted that Urvil might not be a straightforward swap for Mhatre at No. 3 as CSK would also have to find a place for a potentially fit Dhoni.

“There are problems because Ayush Mhatre isn’t there. So, who should be brought in his place? A simple thing would be to bring Urvil Patel and keep Matthew Short at No. 4. However, how would Dhoni come then? He too has to come,” he said.

Chopra added that CSK could alternatively promote Short to No. 3 and bring in Dhoni at No. 8.

“If you bring in Dhoni and move Matthew Short to No. 3, and then have Sarfaraz Khan at No. 4, Dewald Brevis at No. 5, Shivam Dube at No. 6, Jamie Overton at No. 7, and MS Dhoni at No. 8, that’s also a possibility, but you have only four overs till No. 8,” he observed.

The cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that neither Akeal Hosein nor Spencer Johnson would feature in the visitors’ playing combination in such a scenario.

‘After that, you will have three bowlers – Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, and Mukesh Choudhary. Then you can have a Gurjapneet Singh. Then neither Akeal Hosein nor Spencer Johnson would be able to play. They won’t be able to make a place for them if they go with that XI. It’s not that straightforward,” Chopra noted.

Aakash Chopra opined that the CSK bowling attack would become slightly weak if they opt for such a combination. He added that they could alternatively play Urvil Patel ahead of Matthew Short to accommodate Spencer Johnson.

“What will be the advantage of Dhoni coming at No. 8?” – Aakash Chopra on CSK’s potential struggle to find the right combination for IPL 2026 clash vs MI

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that CSK would struggle to figure out their ideal playing combination, highlighting that Jamie Overton shouldn’t bat above No. 7, MS Dhoni batting at No. 8 might not benefit them greatly, and Matthew Short’s bowling wouldn’t work in Mumbai.

“I think they will still struggle to figure out what their right XI is. Their permutations and combinations are very complicated. Overton shouldn’t come at No. 6. He should come at No. 7 only, and then what will be the advantage of Dhoni coming at No. 8? Matthew Short’s bowling won’t work here. His bowling worked there (in Hyderabad) for two overs, but his bowling won’t work here,” he said.

The analyst added that he wouldn’t want CSK to weaken their bowling to bolster their batting.

“He can bat, but will you get him to bat, or will you get Urvil Patel? Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer are still sitting out. When I look at Chennai, I see a lot of issues because I don’t want to weaken the bowling. The two matches you have won were on the back of your bowling. So don’t compromise the bowling to better the batting. It’s already disadvantaged because of Khaleel Ahmed going,” Chopra observed.

Aakash Chopra opined that CSK would want to chase if they win the toss in their IPL 2026 clash against MI. He reasoned that Ruturaj Gaikwad and company don’t seem to have the capability and intent to post mammoth totals while batting first.