Former India captain and Chennai Super Kings stalwart MS Dhoni has travelled to Hyderabad ahead of CSK’s Indian Premier League clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday. The move comes after two straight victories for Chennai at home, and the side will be keen to extend that momentum to a third consecutive win, this time on the road. For Sunrisers, the task will be to keep their home record strong, with the franchise having managed wins in two of their five matches so far this campaign. CSK shared a clip on its X account showing Dhoni stepping onto the team bus as the squad headed for the flight to Hyderabad.
Even so, CSK’s playing XI decision may still be influenced by Dhoni’s fitness situation. The wicketkeeping-batting icon has been sidelined so far due to a calf strain, and it is still not confirmed whether he will be available for selection against SRH. The two-week window that the franchise had mentioned when announcing the injury has already passed, but the final call appears to hinge on how his body responds to training and match conditions.
Prior to this week’s workload, Dhoni had taken part in a light session in the nets, preparing for Chennai’s earlier meeting with three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. At 44 years old, he continues to build up towards full readiness rather than jumping straight into a full-intensity routine. During the practice session, he had not faced deliveries at full throttle and instead worked primarily with throwdowns, including sessions guided by batting coach and former CSK team-mate Michael Hussey. Notably, wicketkeeping drills were also absent from his training during that session.
Dhoni also missed the team’s previous outings, with the calf issue keeping him out of the travelling group for matches away from Chennai. He did not accompany the squad to Guwahati or Bengaluru for those road games, nor did he travel to Chepauk for the home fixture on matchday. Ahead of Chennai’s earlier home contest against Punjab Kings, head coach Stephen Fleming had addressed Dhoni’s status publicly, stressing that his influence inside the franchise remains significant.
Fleming said, “It is just a game without him. He is still heavily involved in the side, and his influence remains very strong.” On the numbers, Dhoni’s IPL record continues to stand out: across 278 matches, he has compiled 5,439 runs in 242 innings at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45. His tally includes 24 half-centuries, with a highest score of 84 not out, making him the sixth-highest run-scorer in the tournament’s history.
Last season, when CSK ended in the wooden-spoon position, Dhoni contributed 196 runs across 13 innings at an average of 24.50, striking at more than 135. His best knock then was 30 not out. With that context, Chennai will be watching closely as his calf recovery progresses—especially with Saturday’s contest against SRH looming and a chance to keep their recent winning run going.
