MS Dhoni picked up a calf strain during CSK’s pre-season training and has been out since before the tournament even began. He’s missed all six of CSK’s matches so far, and the team has won just two of them.
The Injury
It started in the training camp. The calf strain wasn’t serious enough to rule him out for the season, but at 44, nobody was going to rush him back. CSK officially said in late March that he’d likely miss the first two weeks.
The tricky part? His batting in the nets came back quickly. The real problem has been running — explosive sprints, quick singles, sudden direction changes. That’s what a calf strain takes longest to recover, and that’s exactly what wicket-keeping and T20 batting demands.
When Is He Coming Back?
Coach Michael Hussey summed it up well: “He’s batting really well. It’s about building his confidence to run hard and quickly.”
The April 23 game against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede was floated as a possible return, but that looks too soon. The more realistic target is April 26 against Gujarat Titans. Dhoni is travelling with the squad and training harder each day, but the final call is his alone — and knowing Dhoni, he won’t step on the field until he’s fully satisfied with his own fitness.
A further delay is also possible. He’s done it before.
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Why CSK Need Him Back
Two wins from six games tells the story. Without Dhoni, CSK’s death-overs batting has been poor, their wicket-keeping tactical edge has disappeared, and the general calmness he brings to the side just isn’t there. He doesn’t even need to be captain — his presence alone changes how the team plays.
Bottom line: April 26 is the most likely return date, but nothing is confirmed. Dhoni decides when Dhoni plays.
