Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has confirmed that MS Dhoni’s return to the playing XI has been delayed after the veteran wicketkeeper-batter suffered another setback in his calf injury.
Dhoni was initially expected to miss only the first two weeks of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. However, nearly a month into the tournament, he is yet to feature, with CSK already having played eight matches.
Fleming revealed that Dhoni aggravated his calf during a warm-up game, forcing the team to take a cautious approach.
“He’s pretty keen,” Fleming said. “But the calf is a tricky one. If he pushes too hard and tears it again, he could be out for longer. We tried to fast-track things, but he tweaked it again in a warm-up game, and since then he’s been working hard on his recovery.”
Despite the setback, Dhoni has remained actively involved in training, regularly batting in the nets and gradually increasing his workload under supervision. He was recently seen doing light running drills with the physio and facing spin bowlers and throwdowns, including sessions with batting coach Michael Hussey.
Fleming stressed that Dhoni’s return will depend entirely on his recovery progress.
“He’s guiding this process himself, working closely with the physio. We’re just waiting for the green signal. He’s doing everything possible to come back,” he added.
CSK’s campaign has been inconsistent so far, with five losses in eight games leaving them sixth on the points table. The five-time champions will now have a short break before their high-profile clash against the Mumbai Indians on May 2, where fans will once again hope for Dhoni’s return.
