Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been navigating the ongoing IPL 2026 season without the presence of MS Dhoni for over a month. Although the former captain was initially expected to be sidelined for only a fortnight, his recovery has extended well beyond that timeline, and he has remained on the bench for several consecutive fixtures.
Will MS Dhoni feature in CSK vs MI clash?
Providing an update ahead of the high-profile clash against Mumbai Indians (MI), CSK batting coach Michael Hussey indicated that Dhoni is still not match-ready. Hussey confirmed that the veteran wicketkeeper-batter is continuing to struggle with a persistent calf injury, which has hampered his ability to return to the playing XI.
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Adding further context to the situation, head coach Stephen Fleming recently noted that Dhoni suffered a setback by tweaking his calf during a warm-up session. This secondary irritation appears to have delayed his rehabilitation process, leaving the team and fans waiting for a definitive timeline on his return to action.
“MS is going really well. Hopefully, he’ll be back as soon as possible. I’m not sure if that will be tomorrow or the match after, but he’s progressing well. Once he feels confident in his calf, I’m sure he’ll give the signal that he’s ready to go. At the moment, we’re guided by him. We’re waiting. I think all of Chennai is waiting," Hussey said at the pre-match press conference.
How have CSK fared in IPL 2026 so far?
CSK currently find themselves in sixth place on the IPL 2026 points table, having secured only three victories in their eight outings. With a total of six points and a challenging Net Run Rate of -1.121, the Yellow Army is working to recover from a difficult start to the season. Their campaign began with three consecutive losses against Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The team’s form has been inconsistent since that opening slump. While they managed to secure important wins over the Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, they also stumbled against Sunrisers Hyderabad. One of their standout performances was a dominant 103-run victory over the Mumbai Indians, though the momentum was short-lived as they suffered a heavy eight-wicket defeat to the Gujarat Titans in their most recent fixture.
The situation is even more dire for Mumbai Indians, who are currently languishing at the bottom of the standings with just two wins from eight matches. Given that teams generally require at least 16 points to guarantee a spot in the playoffs, another loss to CSK would effectively signal the end of MI's campaign. This makes their upcoming encounter a must-win battle for both storied franchises as they fight to stay relevant in the tournament.