In a statement, the franchise said Dhoni is undergoing rehabilitation and is unlikely to be available for the early part of the tournament.
The 44-year-old, who stepped down as Chennai captain in 2024 after leading the franchise to five IPL titles, has continued to feature only in the IPL since retiring from international cricket in 2020.
Despite Chennai enduring a disappointing campaign last season and finishing bottom of the table, Dhoni played in all 14 matches, scoring 196 runs.
Chennai, who last lifted the IPL trophy in 2023, will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on Monday.
