\u201cKhaleel Ahmed has been ruled out of IPL 2026 after sustaining a right quadricep injury in the game against KKR. Wishing Khaleel a speedy recovery,\u201d said the franchise on its \u2018X\u2019 account on Thursday. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Khaleel, 28, was forced to walk off the field after pulling over in his run-up in the KKR innings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday, as CSK won by 32 runs. Initially he appeared to be suffering from severe cramps, but Khaleel clutched his right leg in discomfort and subsequently walked off the field, leaving teammate Gurjapneet Singh to bowl the remaining five balls in the over. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe injury also involves tears in the quadriceps. So Khaleel may require surgery if it is needed. It\u2019s a bad injury for a fast bowler to get, as anything near that area takes a long time to heal and rehab also has to be done very carefully,\u201d said an IPL source. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
With the IPL 2026 season intensifying, Khaleel's absence leaves a massive void in the CSK pace battery. The side is already playing without MS Dhoni, who is recovering from a calf injury and Spencer Johnson, who is expected to link up with the side in coming days and is himself coming off a back stress fracture injury. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe injury also involves tears in the quadriceps. So Khaleel may require surgery if it is needed. It\u2019s a bad injury for a fast bowler to get, as anything near that area takes a long time to heal and rehab also has to be done very carefully,\u201d said an IPL source. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
With two wins from five matches, Ruturaj Gaikwad-led CSK are scheduled to travel to Hyderabad to take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday evening. <\/p>\r\n\r\n