Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels that MS Dhoni’s return to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) XI in IPL 2026 could depend on how the franchise fares in the playoff race. Ashwin believes the wicketkeeper-batter may only be brought back if CSK are effectively out of contention, rather than risking his fitness while there is still a realistic shot at qualification.
CSK have managed just three wins from eight matches so far in the IPL 2026 season, yet there has been no definitive development on Dhoni’s comeback. Dhoni has been sidelined since the tournament began with a calf problem. He was expected to feature in CSK’s previous outing against the Gujarat Titans, but that return never materialised.
Ashwin, who was part of the CSK setup last season, shared his assessment on his YouTube channel. He suggested that the franchise would be cautious, given the stakes of the remaining campaign and the need to protect the player’s workload while qualification is still possible.
“If CSK get knocked out of the tournament, then MS Dhoni might play. CSK are still in the race, so why would they take that risk right now? I still think CSK have a chance to qualify for the playoffs. But honestly, it’s difficult. The way CSK have performed in their last five matches has given them a bit of confidence. Their bowling is clicking—if their batting also comes together, they can string together three wins in a row,” Ashwin said.
Fleming also signals caution over Dhoni’s fitness
Earlier, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming had indicated that Dhoni’s calf issue is serious enough that the team cannot simply rush him back. Fleming pointed to the possibility of aggravating the injury if Dhoni resumes too early, which could potentially rule him out for the remainder of the season.
Fleming said, “The calf is a tough one. If he comes back and then tears it again, then he’s finished. We tried to push it early, and even in the warm-up game he tweaked it again—at least that’s how it looked to me. Since then, he’s been working hard to bring some movement into it, but there was a setback, so it has taken longer than we thought.”
He added that Dhoni has been working closely with the medical staff, but the final decision will depend on how the injury progresses. “He’s the guide on this one, and he’s working hard with the physio and doing all the rehab. We’re just waiting for the word. All I can say is don’t treat it lightly—he’s progressing and doing everything he can,” Fleming said on Sunday following CSK’s loss.
Ashwin urges CSK to treat next match as must-win
Ashwin also argued that CSK’s immediate priority should be their next fixture against the Mumbai Indians, focusing on picking up wins from the matches that remain. In his view, a victory over MI could help CSK climb back into contention, especially with several games still scheduled on batting-friendly surfaces.
“If CSK want to stay in the tournament, they have to win the next game. If they can beat MI, they can find themselves back in that mid-table mix. Looking at the fixtures left for CSK, they’ll be playing on good batting wickets. And even Ruturaj is back in form. Winning four out of six isn’t that hard,” Ashwin said.
For continuing coverage of IPL 2026, fans can follow live scores, match updates, the points table, and the race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
