MS Dhoni’s wait in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) has extended to nine matches in a row after the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) talisman reportedly skipped the trip to Delhi. After the win against Mumbai Indians a few days back. CSK will face Delhi Capitals in an away match on May 5 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Dhoni was initially ruled out for two weeks due to a calf strain he sustained during training ahead of the start of IPL 2026. But it has been over a month now and Dhoni is still unavailable, a clear sign that he is still not match-ready. Still, CSK officials are still hopeful that the five-time IPL-winning captain will play sometime in IPL 2026.
Based on a Cricbuzz report, Dhoni has decided not to travel to Delhi and is continuing his rehabilitation in Chennai. “He should be available at some stage,” a CSK official told the aforementioned website. After the Delhi Capitals match, CSK will have five more matches to play in IPL 2026. Dhoni’s last match for CSK was against Gujarat Titans in 2025.
What is MS Dhoni’s return in IPL 2026?
Dhoni’s primary concern, batting coach Michael Hussey explained, was his ability to sustain the run intensity. Dhoni may be batting at the nets, but where is the run, the 44-year-old is struggling. “Yes, he is progressing really well. I know he is pushing hard to get back as soon as possible. I know all the fans want to see MS Dhoni play as well. So we hope maybe in a few more games,” Hussey informed during CSK’s away match against Mumbai Indians.
“But obviously he needs to be close to 100% fit to be at his best. Because he’s been batting well in the nets. He looks good in the nets. He just needs to run hard between the wickets as well,” added the former Australian starter.
Interestingly, Dhoni chose to stay away from the action during CSK’s match days, unlike Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma, who was also sidelined for three consecutive matches due to a hamstring injury. According to Hussey, Dhoni felt that if he participated, it could be a distraction.
“He didn’t want it to distract from the team,” Hussey reported. However, Dhoni remains an integral part of team discussions. In the points table, CSK is in sixth place with four wins in nine matches.
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