Chennai Super Kings prepare for their vital home fixture against Mumbai Indians today at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, with a mixed record of 3 wins and 5 losses in IPL 2026. This second showdown between these old rivals follows a dominant victory for the yellow army earlier this season.
While fans are desperate for a turnaround, MS Dhoni is still working his way back from a persistent calf injury that has kept him off the team sheet since the tournament began. The legendary wicketkeeper is still the talk of the town as the squad sit in the middle of the table, fighting to find their mojo under Ruturaj Gaikwad’s new leadership.
Team focus takes priority over celebrity presence
Michael Hussey clarified during the pre-match talk that MS Dhoni’s decision to stay away from the dugout during games actually comes down to his selfless nature. The batting coach noted that the former captain is intentionally skipping stadium visits to keep the intense media spotlight on the active players.
Because the TV cameras and the roaring home crowd tend to fixate on the veteran, he feels his absence lets the current squad focus entirely on their roles without that extra pressure. Hussey emphasised that the legendary finisher puts the team's needs ahead of making personal appearances.
"He's such a team-oriented guy, MS Dhoni. He always wants what's best for the team, and he was worried that if he came, there'd be a bit too much of a distraction. Obviously, the cameras would be on him a lot. The crowd would be cheering for him and things like that. And he really wanted the team just to be able to go about their job, do our thing. Whether that's right or wrong, that's not my decision to sort of make, but that's the thinking behind with Dhoni not wanting to come to the matches," Hussey said at the pre-match press conference ahead of CSK versus MI clash.
MS Dhoni's physical recovery remains the final hurdle
Beyond the psychological reasons for staying away, the Australian coach gave an encouraging update on MS Dhoni’s fitness. He mentioned that the veteran star is finally hitting higher running speeds in training, which was really the main hurdle during his long rehab period.
Although the coaching staff has total confidence in his keeping and batting, they need him to prove he can handle the quick singles and doubles required in the final overs. Hussey indicated that the legend will essentially give himself the green light once he feels his leg is back to 100%.
The management expects a potential return for MS Dhoni either in tonight’s clash or the very next game, as his progress picks up. Every supporter in Chennai is waiting for that familiar walk to the middle, yet the team respects his cautious approach to ensure he doesn’t aggravate the injury again.
Since he’s essentially guiding his own recovery, the final call rests on how he feels during high-intensity drills. Ultimately, having MS Dhoni back in the lineup would be a massive boost for the squad’s morale as they push for a playoff spot.
"Hopefully, he'll be back as soon as possible. I don't know if it's tomorrow or maybe the next match after that, but he's progressing really well. I know he's been upping his running speeds, and that was probably the sticking point. I think we're very confident from a skill perspective with his batting and his wicketkeeping, but it was just making sure that he could maintain good running power, particularly towards the back end of an inning, where he's going to have to scan for those and twos. So as soon as he's got the confidence in his calf, then I'm sure he'll give it the tick to be ready to go,"Hussey added.
