With the Chennai Super Kings faithful waiting for the next update on MS Dhoni’s availability, IPL 2026 has only added to the suspense around the veteran’s return. Dhoni has yet to provide a clear timeline for his comeback, and that uncertainty has continued to hover over CSK’s campaign. The situation now comes to a head as the franchise prepares for its last league match, taking on Gujarat Titans on Thursday, with CSK sitting sixth in the standings after 13 games and 12 points.
In the build-up to the clash, CSK batting coach Michael Hussey addressed the most pressing question for the team and its supporters—when Dhoni will be back in action. Hussey made it clear that Dhoni will not be part of the squad for the game against GT due to a thumb injury. At the same time, he left the door open for a possible return later in the tournament, suggesting that Dhoni could rejoin the side if CSK manage to secure a playoff berth.
“I can confirm he is not here with the team, but if we do happen to qualify, then he will definitely join back up with the team. He has got a bit of a sore thumb, so it is recovering nicely, but he would not be ready for this match. But hopefully, if we can manage to get through to the playoffs, then hopefully he will be alright,” Hussey said.
For CSK, the immediate goal is survival in the playoff race. A win over Gujarat Titans would lift their points tally to 14, but even that would not be enough on its own. The franchise would still require favourable outcomes from the remaining league matches to finish in a position that keeps them in contention.
CSK’s preparation for the must-win encounter has been shaped by recent setbacks. They enter the GT fixture following back-to-back defeats, first losing to Lucknow Super Giants and then suffering a five-wicket loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The defeat to SRH carried a sharp sting, particularly because Ishan Kishan produced a match-winning half-century during a successful chase of 181, steering SRH to victory and placing CSK under greater pressure.
Hussey acknowledged that the result was frustrating, but he underlined the need for the side to quickly recalibrate ahead of their final league opportunity. He said the loss made the path to the top four harder, while also stressing that individual takeaways would be important—but only if they could be converted into immediate improvement. “Obviously, it has made it more difficult for us to get through to the top four. Individually, everyone will take a few little learnings from it, but we have to move on quite quickly. We were all very disappointed, obviously, after the match,” Hussey said.
He also pointed to the mood in the dressing room and how the coaching staff tried to reset expectations after the defeat. “We were a bit flat in the dressing room. But coach spoke to us about, OK, come on, we have got one more game, one more chance, so we have got to make sure we move on from this very quickly. It is all about our attitude moving forward,” Hussey added.
That mindset will be crucial for CSK as they try to end their losing run and keep their playoff hopes alive—while also waiting for the next chapter in Dhoni’s recovery and potential return should the season’s top-four dream stay on track.
