MS Dhoni has been in terrific form in IPL 2023. He has faced only 27 balls in four matches so far, got out only once and smashed 58 runs at a strike rate of 214.81 with six sixes and two fours. However, he has not been 100% fit since the start of the season. His fitness issues came to notice once again after he was seen struggling to steal a run during CSK’s last match against Rajasthan Royals.
After the match, head coach Stephen Fleming confirmed that the knee injury hampered Dhoni’s movements.
“He is nursing a knee injury, which you can see in some of his movements, which is hindering him somewhat. But still what you saw today is a great player for us. His fitness has always been very professional,” Fleming told reporters.
The former New Zealand captain said there is not much doubt over Dhoni’s fitness as he puts in a lot of hard work in the month leading up to the IPL every year.
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“He comes a month before the tournament starts, so he doesn’t get the opportunity to do a lot [before that],” Fleming said. “He will stay fit, they will do some netting in Ranchi, but his main pre-season [fitness] is done a month before when he comes to Chennai. And he works his way back into match-form and I think you can still see he’s playing pretty well. So we never have any doubts about the way he manages himself and he always gets himself up to speed.”