Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already played seven matches in the IPL 2026, yet the question of whether Mahendra Singh Dhoni will return to action is still unanswered. The wicketkeeper-batter is continuing his comeback process after a calf injury, an issue that first sidelined him for a fortnight starting on March 28. While Dhoni has been training at the ground, he has not been officially declared fully match-fit. Even with signs of improvement, he missed CSK’s seventh fixture as well, leaving his potential return date to speculation.
- Dhoni was ruled out for two weeks after suffering a calf strain on March 28.
- He has continued to train, but remains not confirmed as match-ready.
- On the eve of CSK’s seventh match against Mumbai Indians (MI), Dhoni practised wicketkeeping, offering a glimpse of his recovery.
- Despite that preparation, Dhoni did not play the MI game, keeping fans waiting for his return.
As the uncertainty lingers, veteran India spinner and former CSK all-rounder R Ashwin has offered a forecast that Dhoni will feature in two matches during the current season. Ashwin shared his belief during a rapid-fire segment on ESPNcricinfo.
With Dhoni unavailable, CSK have turned to their wicketkeeping options, most notably Sanju Samson. Samson has been behind the stumps during Dhoni’s absence, after CSK completed a trade that brought him to the franchise from Rajasthan Royals. In that deal, CSK sent Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in exchange for Samson.
On Thursday, CSK batting coach Michael Hussey addressed the continuing discussion around Dhoni’s role on his return. Hussey said that whenever Dhoni comes back from injury, he will resume wicketkeeping duties, despite earlier talk that the captain might return only as an Impact Player—an idea that gained traction given Samson and Kartik Sharma’s availability as wicketkeeping choices.
Hussey underlined that the deciding factor is not skill but the calf’s reliability under match pressure. He said Dhoni is expected to be positioned behind the stumps and explained that the most important part of his comeback is ensuring his calf can handle the running demands of the role, particularly the quick movement required in the middle to late phases of an innings.
Hussey also stressed that Dhoni’s wicketkeeping ability and batting form are already proven, while the final step is rebuilding confidence in the calf. He added that the wicketkeeper-batter has been progressing well in training, pushing to return as quickly as possible, and hinted that fans could see him in the coming matches. However, Hussey made it clear Dhoni still needs to be close to 100% fitness to perform at his best, and that beyond net work, he must also run hard between the wickets to confirm readiness.
