3 T20 World Cup winning captains in 1 frame: Dhoni, Rohit, Surya reunite at Chepauk
Three eras of Indian T20 cricket came together in one frame as MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav were snapped during a practice session ahead of the IPL 2026 clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians at Chepauk on May 2. The picture quickly went viral, not just for the moment, but for what it represented.
These are India’s three T20 World Cup-winning captains across generations. Dhoni led the country to the inaugural title in 2007, Rohit followed it up in 2024, and Suryakumar added the 2026 crown. Three timelines, one frame.
What made the image stand out even more is the context of their current IPL seasons. None of the three have had a smooth campaign so far, with fitness concerns and form issues shaping their respective stories.
WHY IS MS DHONI NOT PLAYING IPL 2026?
Dhoni’s absence has been one of the biggest talking points for CSK this season.
The former India and CSK captain has been sidelined with a calf injury and hasn’t featured in the IPL so far. CSK had confirmed early on that he would miss the opening phase of the tournament, but even as the weeks have passed, his return remains uncertain.
There was fresh anticipation ahead of the upcoming games, especially at Chepauk, but Dhoni was once again left out of the playing XI. Reports have also suggested that he has been cautious about not disturbing the team balance unless fully fit.
CSK, currently sixth on the table with six points and a net run rate of -0.121, have felt that absence, especially in pressure moments. Whether Dhoni returns against MI remains unclear.
WHY IS ROHIT SHARMA NOT PLAYING IN IPL 2026?
Rohit’s situation has been similar, with injury keeping him out of action.
The MI opener has now missed four consecutive matches, including the recent clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has been out since April 12 after suffering a hamstring injury against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
There was some hope when Rohit was seen training in the nets ahead of recent games, but MI captain Hardik Pandya confirmed at the toss that he still needs more time to return.
That has left a gap at the top for MI, who are already struggling this season. His availability for the CSK clash is still not guaranteed.
HOW HAS SURYAKUMAR YADAV’S FORM BEEN IN IPL 2026?
Unlike Dhoni and Rohit, Suryakumar has been playing, but the runs haven’t quite followed.
In eight innings this season, he has scored 162 runs at an average of 20.25 and a strike rate of 140.87, numbers that are well below his usual standards. His last six scores read 6, 33, 0, 15, 36 and 5, showing a pattern of starts without impact.
The most recent example came against SRH, where he walked in after a strong platform had been set but managed just 5 off 5 balls. For a player expected to dominate the middle overs, that phase has been a concern for MI.
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