Chennai Super Kings have had a rocky start to IPL 2026. The five-time champions finished last season in tenth place and began this campaign under captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. They started the tournament poorly, losing three straight games as the side struggled under pressure in the early weeks. The first real sign of life came on April 11, when Sanju Samson's incredible unbeaten 115 off 56 balls led them to a 23-run victory over Delhi Capitals, their first win of the season.
Three days later, CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs at MA Chidambaram Stadium, winning two in a row for the first time in two years. With that result, CSK moved up to eighth on the points table with four points from five matches. The side still have work to do, but they finally have some momentum.
The long wait since MS Dhoni's calf strain began before a ball was bowled
CSK's season so far has been defined by the massive hole left behind by MS Dhoni. On 28 March, Chennai Super Kings confirmed that Dhoni was rehabbing a calf strain and would likely miss the first two weeks of IPL 2026. That news hit the fans hard because at 44, every game Dhoni misses feels like a missed opportunity that won't come back. His absence has been obvious, especially in tight spots where his calm head and experience usually anchor the team. The injury forced management to scramble and rethink their lineup early on.
With the veteran out, Sanju Samson, who joined from the Rajasthan Royals before the season, took over behind the stumps. Samson has done a great job with the gloves and has been huge with the bat, but Dhoni leaves a tactical gap that goes beyond just wicketkeeping. Dhoni hasn't been travelling for away games and didn't even appear in the dugout for the home game against KKR. Instead, he stayed at the hotel and practised at Chepauk, sticking to a steady rehab program with the support staff.
While Dhoni has been training, he’s mostly been facing throwdowns and hasn't hit top gear yet. ESPNcricinfo reported that before the KKR match, Dhoni had a short net session late in the evening under the Chepauk lights, again sticking to throwdowns from batting coach Mike Hussey and other staff. Seeing him in the nets sparked rumours of a return on April 14, but CSK stayed cautious with his recovery, and the medical team didn't want to risk playing him until he was 100% fit.
Earlier reports suggested Dhoni might return against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18, but that’s been ruled out. Fans even travelled to Shirdi to pray for him; Sakshi Dhoni and Ziva were spotted at the Sai Baba Temple seeking blessings for his quick recovery.
Dhoni targets the MI clash at Wankhede for his return
According to Express Sports, the wait is almost over. MS Dhoni's return date is set: the former skipper is expected to play his first game of the year against rivals Mumbai Indians on April 23 at Wankhede Stadium. It’s the El Clásico of the IPL, and Dhoni is firmly in the mix for that game.
The 44-year-old is nearly fit, but the SRH game on April 18 just came a bit too early. The MI match gives him the perfect window to get back on the field. Even at 44, he's grinding to get his fitness back for this massive game. When he eventually walks out at Wankhede, it’ll be for a matchup that usually defines how an IPL season unfolds.
In recent years, Dhoni has carved out a role where he faces maybe 10 to 12 balls and tries to clear the rope every time; his strike rate was 182 in 2023 and 221 in 2024. Those stats show how well he reads the game and delivers under pressure. It’s still unclear who drops out for him, but on paper, it looks like a straight choice: bring Dhoni in for Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has really struggled for runs. However, since Gaikwad is the captain, the team will likely keep backing him.
