The wait for the Yellow Army may finally be over. In a season so far defined by his absence from the field, MS Dhoni has given the clearest signal yet of a competitive comeback. On Thursday, the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman was seen boarding the Chennai Super Kings team bus bound for the airport as the team traveled to Hyderabad for their high-stakes match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday.
Dhoni, who was initially sidelined for the first two weeks of the IPL 2026 season due to a groin injury, had earlier opted out of the team’s trips to Guwahati and Bengaluru. His decision to join the traveling party this time has sent social media into a frenzy, sparking intense speculation that he could feature in the playing XI at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
CSK’s official social media staff shared a touching video of the departure. In the clip, a fit Dhoni is seen boarding a bus in Chennai. The veteran did not miss a minute as he appreciated the fans gathered at the gates; was seen waving to family and several supporters who cheered “Thala!” when he got into the vehicle.
The franchise captioned the video with a simple yet suggestive message: On Time, All set for Hyderabad.
Dhoni’s injury, initially reported as a calf strain during the pre-season but later clarified as a groin problem, has been a major point of discussion.
While Dhoni’s lead and finish slipped away, the Men in Yellow do not come to Hyderabad in desperation but on a two-match winning streak. After a shaky start to the season (losing three of their first four), Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side have found a balanced and lethal combination.
This increase saw CSK climb to 8th place in the table with 4 points and a significantly better outlook. The team benefited from the inclusion of South African sensation Dewald Brevis and the disciplined spin of Noor Ahmad, who was the man of the match in the recent win over Kolkata Knight Riders.
With the team currently firing on all cylinders, Dhoni’s potential return is a joy for the management. Sanju Samson was clinical behind the stumps and in the middle order while the bowling unit successfully defended totals in back-to-back games.
The decision for Saturday is likely to depend on Dhoni’s fitness during Friday’s practice session at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Given the team’s current momentum, he could be released back into goal, potentially using the Impact Player rule manage his physical load while providing the tactical insight and late-innings explosiveness that remains his hallmark.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
16 Apr 2026 16:54 IST
