CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said MS Dhoni’s much-awaited return to the Chennai playing XI has been pushed back again after the former captain aggravated his calf. Dhoni had originally been ruled out for the opening fortnight of the current IPL due to a calf problem. Yet with nearly a month having passed since the tournament started, CSK have already played eight matches without Dhoni in the squad.
Fleming addressed the situation after CSK suffered their fifth defeat of the campaign, confirming that Dhoni tweaked his calf during a warm-up game. “He’s pretty keen,” Fleming said, speaking about Dhoni’s eagerness to come back. “The calf is a tough one though. If he goes for it and tears the calf again, then he will be out. So we brought it forward, and in the warm-up game he tweaked it again, that’s my understanding. Since then he’s been working hard to get some movement back, but there was a setback, which is why it has taken longer than we thought.”
Even though Dhoni has not been named in the playing group, he has continued to be seen batting in the nets, where his work has largely involved facing throwdowns. The uncertainty around his availability has been a major talking point leading into CSK’s recent fixtures. On Saturday, April 25, Dhoni was spotted running alongside the physio before returning to the nets, where he faced spinners as well as throwdowns. The throwdowns in the session also came under the guidance of batting coach Michael Hussey.
Fleming elaborated further on Sunday, saying Dhoni is being led carefully through his rehabilitation. “He is the guide on this one, and he’s working hard with the physio and doing all the rehab, and we’re just waiting for the word,” he said. “But all I can keep saying is stop making light of it, as he is progressing and doing everything he can.”
With five defeats from eight matches, CSK currently sit sixth in the points table. They now have a five-day break before hosting rivals Mumbai Indians on May 2.
