CSK\u2019s batting coach Michael Hussey has explained why MS Dhoni stays away from the stadium on match days, even though the former captain attends pre-match net sessions. Dhoni, who is yet to feature in the current season, has not been spotted at the ground during CSK\u2019s games in the ongoing tournament, a decision Hussey says was made with the team\u2019s focus firmly in mind. The Australian, speaking on Friday, May 1, ahead of CSK\u2019s important encounter against MI, said he would naturally like to have Dhoni in the dressing room on game day, but the call ultimately belonged to the wicketkeeper-batter himself.<\/p>\n
Hussey noted that Dhoni is deeply invested in the collective cause and felt his presence could end up drawing attention away from the players\u2019 routine. \u201cHe\u2019s such a team-orientated guy,\u201d Hussey said. \u201cHe always wants what\u2019s best for the team. He was worried that if he came there\u2019d be a bit too much of a distraction\u2014obviously the cameras would be on him a lot, and the crowd would be cheering for him. He really wanted the group to just be able to do their job and go about our thing.\u201d Hussey added that while he personally values Dhoni\u2019s presence, the rationale behind the skipper\u2019s choice was straightforward: avoid turning himself into a focal point and allow the team to operate without extra noise. \u201cHe\u2019s been watching very closely back home,\u201d Hussey said, while also stressing that Dhoni continues to show up for training and brings a lively energy there, offering guidance and experience to the players.<\/p>\n
With headlines repeatedly tying Dhoni to a potential return ahead of IPL 2026 whenever CSK play, Hussey suggested the timeline might not be stretched for long. He said Dhoni is progressing well and hinted that a return could arrive sooner than many expect. \u201cI don\u2019t know if it\u2019s tomorrow or maybe the next match after that, but he\u2019s progressing really well,\u201d Hussey said. He pointed to improvements in Dhoni\u2019s running work as a key factor, explaining that the last hurdle is maintaining strong movement late in an innings when quick sprints\u2014those ones and twos\u2014become crucial. \u201cWe\u2019re very confident from a skill perspective with his batting and his wicketkeeping,\u201d Hussey added. \u201cIt was just making sure that he could maintain good running power, particularly towards the back end of an innings. As soon as he\u2019s got the confidence in his calf, I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll give it the tick to be ready to go.\u201d Hussey also made clear that the entire Chennai camp, and the fans beyond it, are watching for that moment. \u201cWe\u2019re kind of guided by him at the moment. But we\u2019re waiting. I think all of Chennai\u2019s waiting. All the fans are waiting and hoping.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hussey also admitted that CSK are still figuring out the best way to handle the impact player rule. The franchise has already faced criticism for bringing the substitute in early on a couple of occasions this season, with the strategy not delivering the desired outcomes. \u201cI think we\u2019ve been experimenting a little bit,\u201d Hussey said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had obviously four substitutes there ready to go in according to the situation of the match. Sometimes it\u2019s worked really well\u2014for example, Akeal Hosein came in and bowled extremely well in one particular match as the impact sub. But there are other times it hasn\u2019t quite worked out. Like in the last match it didn\u2019t quite work out for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the coaching staff are constantly weighing whether the impact player is being used in the most effective way\u2014either for maximum disruption at the right moment, or whether early changes risk destabilising established roles within the side. \u201cIt\u2019s something that we\u2019re talking about a lot behind the scenes\u2014how best we use it,\u201d Hussey explained. \u201cDo we use it in a strategic way, like we have been, by trying to insert a certain player in at the right time to have the biggest impact in the game? But then on the other hand, is that having an impact and destabilising the other players in the team, such as Brevis or Dube?\u201d Hussey suggested CSK may look to build more stability across the innings and consider deploying the impact player later instead. \u201cThat\u2019s something that we\u2019re talking about a lot behind the scenes,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I think we\u2019re starting to sort of think okay, well maybe we\u2019d like to keep a bit more stability there through the year, and then just use the impact player maybe towards the back end of the innings.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CSK\u2019s batting coach Michael Hussey has explained why MS Dhoni stays away from the stadium on match days, even though the former captain attends pre-match…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6741,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL 2025: Hussey on Dhoni skipping matchday crowds for CSK","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Michael Hussey reveals why MS Dhoni avoids matchday crowds for CSK, despite attending nets\u2014explaining the focus behind his quiet IPL 2025 approach.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n