As Chennai celebrates the Tamil New Year this Tuesday, attention turns to the MA Chidambaram Stadium, which is expected to be packed to bursting for the IPL 2026 match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The central question remains: Will MS Dhoni finally return?
The stakes are high. Although ČSK ended a three-game losing streak with a recent win over Delhi Capitals, the team is still looking for a consistent combination. Dhoni’s influential presence has been absent since the start of the season, following the official pre-season announcement that the 44-year-old veteran will be out for at least two weeks with a calf strain.
During the initial recovery, Dhoni remained in Chennai for rehabilitation and did not travel with the team for away matches. Fans have pegged April 14 as his expected return date, but recent indications from the Super Kings camp suggest that the return may be delayed.
Reports suggest that Dhoni needs more time to be fully fit for the match. Although he was seen training before the Delhi Capitals game and again before the KKR clash, his involvement was limited. On Monday night in Chepauk, Dhoni took part in only light practice, mostly bowling in the nets. Notably, he did not wear wicket gloves or engage in high-intensity drills, suggesting that his calf may not yet support the lateral movements required behind the stumps.
In Dhoni’s absence, Sanju Samson took over the wicket duties. Wicket batter acquired from Rajasthan Royals, scored a century in CSK’s win over Delhi Capitals. After a tough start, Samson found his rhythm and hit hard.
USING DHONI AS AN IMPACT PLAYER?
Still, CSK lacked Dhoni’s presence behind the stumps. It remains uncertain whether the team will reintegrate him directly into the playing XI once he is fully fit or ease his return by using him as an Impact Player.
Former New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan believes CSK have a prime opportunity to use the Impact Player rule to gradually reintroduce Dhoni. “If MS Dhoni is fit, then CSK should bring him in as an impact player. If the team management feel they need a short burst of runs from him, especially in the chase, then bringing him in as an impact sub will allow him to make the most of his batting ability,” McClenaghan said on Monday.
“Playing as an impact player means he doesn’t need to run much. He can come in, hit boundaries and finish in style. His aggressive hitting will come in handy when chasing big totals. It’s a good way to get Dhoni back into rhythm. His presence will strengthen CSK’s lower middle order.”
However, there are downsides to the Impact Player option. While protecting Dhoni’s physical recovery, he deprives CSK of his tactical acumen behind the stumps during the bowling innings. For a team still finding its rhythm, having Dhoni guiding the bowlers on the field often outweighs a brief batting cameo.
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra argued that CSK should retain Dhoni as captain to maximize his value and counter his use as an Impact Player.
In Dhoni’s absence, CSK used Shivam Dube and Jamie Overton as finishers, bolstering the top order with young talent. Dewald Brevis returned to the XI against Delhi Capitals but did not get a chance to bat.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
14 Apr 2026 11:37 IST
