Chennai Super Kings’ campaign at the Narendra Modi Stadium ended in heartbreak on Thursday, with Gujarat Titans sealing an 89-run win to knock CSK out of contention. In the aftermath, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was asked first to assess the defeat, and then to look at a season that nearly transformed from a rough start into a stunning recovery—only for injury questions to keep lingering. However, before the discussion moved on, one topic dominated the conversation in the loudest possible way: will MS Dhoni be back next year?
Dhoni future: Gaikwad keeps fans guessing
With a question of that magnitude, many expected a firm, simple answer from Gaikwad. Instead, his reply only deepened the uncertainty around Dhoni’s IPL 2027 plans. Gaikwad acknowledged that he, too, had no concrete update on whether Dhoni will return for the next season.
“You and I will get to know it next year,” Gaikwad said, adding to the intrigue rather than ending it.
Injuries and the long wait for a return
One detail made the speculation even harder to manage: Dhoni did not play a single match in the IPL this year. The wicketkeeper-batter was ruled out early due to a calf strain picked up before the tournament began. CSK’s initial expectation was that he would be back within about two weeks, but the timeline kept stretching as the season moved on.
- Dhoni missed the entire IPL campaign, with a calf strain keeping him out from the start.
- Management initially believed recovery would take roughly two weeks, but delays followed.
- CSK head coach Stephen Fleming later said a second calf injury had pushed Dhoni’s rehabilitation further back.
Practice sightings and matchday buzz
As the tournament progressed, the same question repeatedly surfaced around CSK’s games: would the next match finally be the one where Dhoni returns? The buzz grew each time Dhoni appeared to be moving closer to action. He remained active during training sessions at Chepauk, and he was also seen doing wicketkeeping work at the Wankhede Stadium ahead of a fixture against Mumbai Indians.
Yet whenever the moment appeared close, the outcome stayed consistent—Dhoni did not take the field.
- Dhoni stayed involved in practice at Chepauk, keeping return hopes alive.
- He was spotted wicketkeeping at the Wankhede Stadium before CSK’s clash with Mumbai Indians.
- Despite repeated signs of readiness, he still didn’t feature in matches.
Chepauk emotions, final league-game speculation, and CSK’s captain’s view
Tension and excitement peaked last week when Dhoni was spotted at an IPL venue on a CSK matchday for the first time this season. With the sighting coming at Chepauk, fans were swept into a familiar mix of joy and fear—joy at the possibility of a return, and fear that it could also be his last appearance in the franchise setting as a player.
Even then, Dhoni remained unavailable. Reports later pointed to a thumb injury as another reason he could not be part of the playing XI.
There was still talk about whether he might appear in CSK’s final league match, but that uncertainty was quickly put to rest after an ESPNcricinfo report stated that Dhoni had already travelled back home.
Gaikwad also addressed the impact of Dhoni’s absence on the team, calling it a major miss—especially for a side that struggled to find consistent stability in the middle order throughout the season.
“It’s a hard miss for us. He can come in during those late overs and change the game just by staying at the crease. Never know about next season, but really happy with the guys we have,” Gaikwad said.
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