MS Dhoni is no longer leading Chennai Super Kings, and his latest status remains uncertain as he continues to recover from a calf issue that has kept him away from key parts of the schedule. The former captain has not joined CSK for away fixtures this season due to rehabilitation, and he has also missed match-day sessions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Even so, he has continued to stay connected to Chepauk operations, showing up in training and closely following the group’s progress.
Dhoni’s injury update and continued Chepauk involvement
Dhoni is currently sidelined with a calf injury, and there is still no clear timeline for his return. This has meant he has not travelled with the squad for away matches during the campaign, focusing instead on recovery. He has also been absent from match days at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Despite that, his presence hasn’t disappeared completely, and he has remained active in the team’s day-to-day cricket environment at Chepauk.
Dhoni’s role has shifted to training support rather than match-day presence. While he may not be in the dressing room during games, he has been involved during sessions at the home venue, keeping a close eye on development work and the performances of players, particularly those in form.
Noor Ahmad’s season swing: from wicket drought to match impact
For Noor Ahmad, the last stretch has been defined by a difficult start followed by a clear turnaround. The Afghanistan leg-spinner had struggled for wickets in international cricket earlier this year, and that same frustration spilled into IPL 2026. In his opening trio of matches of the season, he could not take a wicket. That dry run finally ended when he produced a breakthrough against the Delhi Capitals in Chennai.
However, it was in the contest versus the Kolkata Knight Riders that Noor found the sharper edge in his bowling. He returned with figures of 3 for 21, playing a decisive part in Chennai recording their second successive victory and simultaneously keeping KKR without a win this season.
Why his spell worked at the Chepauk surface
On a track that offered assistance for spin, Noor’s approach stayed simple and effective. Instead of leaning heavily on a wide range of variations, he bowled in a way that allowed the ball to come back into the right-handers. His control of pace through the air and the angle he extracted helped the spell build pressure.
- Noor avoided overcomplicating his plan with too many changes of length and shape.
- He leaned on deliveries that turned back towards right-hand batters.
- With the wicket offering more help than earlier flatter surfaces, he bowled slightly slower and generated side spin and drop.
Dhoni’s advice behind the scenes and CSK coaching insight
After his Player of the Match performance, CSK bowling coach Sridharan Sriram explained that a conversation with Dhoni formed an important part of Noor’s preparation. Sriram highlighted that the former captain helped steer Noor away from excessive googlies and encouraged him to trust his leg-break more consistently.
Sriram also pointed to the match conditions as a factor, noting that the wicket provided more assistance than what Noor had encountered on earlier, flatter tracks. He described how Noor’s ball flight and spin were shaped by the surface, and stressed that the work on getting the leg-break into play had been ongoing.
“I think the wicket helped today. There was a bit more assistance for him compared to the flatter tracks earlier. He bowled slightly slower through the air, with more side spin and drop. That’s something he’s been working on. Even MS had a long chat with him in one of the practice sessions, encouraging him to get his leg-break going. It was very helpful, and the results showed,” Sriram said.
Training monitoring: Dhoni and Fleming watch extended nets
Even though Dhoni was not present on match days, he stayed engaged during the lead-up. On Monday, ahead of the meeting against KKR, Dhoni and head coach Stephen Fleming were seen monitoring Noor during extended net sessions. After practice, Dhoni spent a considerable amount of time speaking with the young spinner.
Noor also arrives at this stage with strong momentum from his earlier campaign, having enjoyed a standout IPL 2025 season where he took 24 wickets.
CSK’s climb in the standings and next assignment
With back-to-back wins, Chennai have moved up to eighth place in the points table. They sit ahead of both Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders following the latest results. Their next fixture comes away from Chepauk as they travel to Hyderabad to face Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18.
- Chennai have climbed to eighth with consecutive victories.
- They are positioned ahead of Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders.
- Next match: Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18.
