MS Dhoni is yet to travel to New Delhi ahead of Chennai Super Kings’ next IPL match against Delhi Capitals on Tuesday, May 6. The CSK icon has remained in Chennai and is continuing his rehabilitation work for a calf injury, with his return still not fully cleared from a match-readiness perspective. Even so, franchise sources have suggested that they have not closed the door on him featuring at some point this season.
Quick facts
- CSK play Delhi Capitals in New Delhi on Tuesday, May 6.
- MS Dhoni is staying in Chennai and undergoing rehab for a calf problem.
- A senior team official indicated Dhoni “should be available at some stage”.
- Dhoni has not played any IPL match this season.
- CSK’s last league outing for Dhoni was against Gujarat Titans on May 25, 2025.
- CSK sit sixth in the points table after four wins from nine games.
- To stay on track for the playoffs, CSK need at least four wins from their remaining fixtures.
- CSK’s remaining matches: vs DC (May 6), vs LSG (May 10), vs DC (May 15 in Lucknow), vs SRH (May 18), vs Gujarat Titans (May 21 in Ahmedabad).
- Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma availability for Monday night vs Lucknow remains unclear.
- Rohit has missed five games due to a hamstring injury.
- Rohit batted for nearly an hour at the Wankhede after fitness drills, while MI were on a travel day.
CSK have five matches remaining in the league phase, and the schedule gives them multiple opportunities to push their playoff case. After the away-and-back sequence begins with Delhi Capitals, Chennai will face Lucknow Super Giants on May 10. They then return to Lucknow for a second meeting with Delhi Capitals on May 15.
Chennai’s next home assignment is against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 18. The campaign will conclude their league programme with a trip to Ahmedabad for their final match of the season against Gujarat Titans on May 21.
Dhoni’s absence has been total so far in IPL 2026, with the wicketkeeper-batter’s most recent appearance coming nearly a year earlier. His last IPL outing was against GT on May 25, 2025. While that gap highlights the severity of the current calf issue, CSK officials have maintained a cautious optimism that he could return within the ongoing season window.
On the points table, the Super Kings are placed sixth. They have collected four wins from nine matches and are still in contention for a top-four finish, provided they can secure at least four victories across their remaining fixtures.
MI leave it to Rohit
Meanwhile, the focus around Mumbai Indians is on Rohit Sharma’s fitness and whether he will be available for the home game against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday night. The latest indication from within the MI setup is that the call has effectively been left to Rohit himself, with the team management trusting his judgement on whether he feels ready to play.
Rohit has been sidelined since April 12 with a hamstring injury. He returned to the nets on Sunday evening at the Wankhede, where he batted for almost an hour after going through fitness drills. Sunday also served as a travel day for Mumbai Indians, but Rohit still made it to the venue with head coach Mahela Jayawardene and stayed involved in a prolonged batting session.
So far, the hamstring problem has ruled Rohit out of five matches, and Mumbai Indians have lost four of those games. With the Monday night clash carrying weight, the expectation is that Rohit could choose to play if he clears his own fitness threshold, leaving the final decision squarely in his hands.
