NEW DELHI: As Chennai Super Kings gear up for a blockbuster meeting with Mumbai Indians at Chepauk, the central talking point is whether MS Dhoni will finally return to IPL action in 2026. CSK batting coach Michael Hussey delivered a positive update ahead of the contest, saying the veteran wicketkeeper-batter is steadily improving as he works his way back from a calf injury that has kept him sidelined for the last three weeks.<\/p>\n
Hussey\u2019s message was cautiously optimistic, even as he acknowledged the timing could still shift depending on Dhoni\u2019s body. \u201cHopefully he\u2019ll be back as soon as possible. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019ll be tomorrow or maybe the next match after that, but he\u2019s progressing really well,\u201d he said on the eve of the clash.<\/p>\n
While Hussey stressed that Dhoni\u2019s core cricketing skills have not gone anywhere, the priority has been restoring his full running fitness\u2014an aspect that becomes especially important in the later phases of an innings. \u201cI know he\u2019s been upping his running speeds and that was probably the sticking point. We\u2019re very confident from a skill perspective with his batting and his wicketkeeping,\u201d Hussey explained.<\/p>\n
According to the coach, the rehabilitation has been geared toward ensuring Dhoni can keep moving with confidence, particularly when the match tightens and the batter has to pick up quick singles and twos while also reading the field. \u201cIt was just making sure that he could maintain good running power, particularly towards the back end of an inning where he\u2019s going to have to scan for those ones and twos. So as soon as he\u2019s got the confidence in his calf, then I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll give it the tick to ready to go,\u201d Hussey added.<\/p>\n
Even with the progress, Hussey made it clear that the final call remains with Dhoni. \u201cOnce he feels confident in his calf, I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll give the signal that he\u2019s ready to go. At the moment, we\u2019re guided by him. We\u2019re waiting. I think all of Chennai is waiting,\u201d the coach said.<\/p>\n
There is another reason Dhoni hasn\u2019t been seen in the dugout during matches: it has been a conscious decision to reduce distractions. Hussey revealed that Dhoni, by nature, is focused on putting the team first, and he believed his presence would draw too much attention. \u201cHe\u2019s such a team-orientated guy, MS Dhoni. He always wants what\u2019s best for the team and he was worried that if he came, there\u2019d be a bit too much of a distraction,\u201d Hussey said.<\/p>\n
With cameras inevitably drawn toward Dhoni and the crowd cheering for him, Hussey suggested Dhoni wanted CSK to be able to concentrate without an extra spotlight. \u201cObviously, the cameras would be on him a lot. The crowd would be cheering for him\u2026 he really wanted the team to just be able to go about their job,\u201d Hussey added.<\/p>\n
That said, Dhoni\u2019s involvement hasn\u2019t stopped behind the scenes. Hussey noted that the former captain has been keeping a close eye on proceedings from home and continuing his preparation with regular training. \u201cHe\u2019s been watching very closely back home. He\u2019s at training all the time\u2026 a bubbly personality and offers a lot of his experience,\u201d Hussey said.<\/p>\n
For viewers tracking the latest action, live updates and tournament developments remain available through IPL live score coverage, IPL news, the IPL schedule, the points table, and the ongoing race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NEW DELHI: As Chennai Super Kings gear up for a blockbuster meeting with Mumbai Indians at Chepauk, the central talking point is whether MS Dhoni…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL 2026: Hussey Update on Dhoni Return vs MI at Chepauk","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Will MS Dhoni play IPL 2026 vs MI at Chepauk? Michael Hussey shares his latest fitness update after Dhoni\u2019s calf injury setback.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n