{"id":3039,"date":"2026-04-16T07:46:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T07:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/dhonis-ipl-2026-return-timeline-april-23-clash-with-mi-at-wankhede"},"modified":"2026-04-16T07:46:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T07:46:09","slug":"dhonis-ipl-2026-return-timeline-april-23-clash-with-mi-at-wankhede","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/dhonis-ipl-2026-return-timeline-april-23-clash-with-mi-at-wankhede","title":{"rendered":"Dhoni\u2019s IPL 2026 return timeline: April 23 clash with MI at Wankhede?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>MS Dhoni\u2019s next IPL outing may not come in Chennai Super Kings\u2019 upcoming game versus Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday, but the following week could finally see his return. A recent report suggests the 44-year-old is nearing a first appearance in IPL 2026 against Mumbai Indians on April 23 at the Wankhede Stadium.<\/p>\n<h2>Possible IPL 2026 return: April 23 at Wankhede<\/h2>\n<p>While the match against SRH is not expected to feature Dhoni, the timing of his comeback is being linked to CSK\u2019s trip to face Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium next week. The report also indicates that Dhoni\u2019s condition is close to full fitness, though it stops short of confirming whether he will be part of the official travelling group for the Hyderabad fixture.<\/p>\n<h2>Injury layoff and why Dhoni\u2019s availability has been questioned<\/h2>\n<p>Dhoni has been sidelined since the start of the season and has missed CSK\u2019s first five matches. The reason, as outlined in the report, traces back to a calf injury that has kept him away from action and away-game travel.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>After the calf injury, Dhoni has not travelled with CSK for away matches.<\/li>\n<li>He has been recuperating in Chennai, where his family is based.<\/li>\n<li>Dhoni was also not spotted at the MA Chidambaram Stadium during CSK\u2019s home matches earlier in the campaign, which led to speculation.<\/li>\n<li>Even so, the report states he has been monitoring the team\u2019s progress closely from the team hotel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Training updates: present for home sessions and light batting<\/h2>\n<p>Despite not being part of match-day squads, Dhoni has been seen in training environments at Chepauk. He attended training sessions for all three home games this season and even took part in light batting work, though he limited himself to throwdowns. Importantly, there were no indications reported of discomfort during those sessions.<\/p>\n<h2>How Dhoni\u2019s influence has continued, and CSK\u2019s recent form<\/h2>\n<p>Even with Dhoni absent on match days, his presence in the team environment appears to have remained. Earlier this week, bowling coach Sridharan Sriram explained how a detailed conversation with Noor Ahmad during training played a role in the spinner\u2019s turnaround\u2014helping him return to form and produce a match-winning impact against Delhi Capitals.<\/p>\n<p>CSK\u2019s campaign started poorly as they lost their opening three matches and slipped to the bottom of the table. However, they then rallied with two straight wins at home, lifting them to eighth place. Now, the franchise will aim to take that momentum into their next away assignment, beginning with the trip to play Hyderabad on April 18.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MS Dhoni\u2019s next IPL outing may not come in Chennai Super Kings\u2019 upcoming game versus Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Dhoni IPL 2026 Return: April 23 vs MI at Wankhede","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"MS Dhoni\u2019s IPL 2026 return could be set for April 23\u2014CSK to face Mumbai Indians at Wankhede, with the next week looking most likely.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast 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