MS Dhoni’s Potential Return to Chennai Super Kings Ahead of IPL Match
New Delhi: MS Dhoni may soon be traveling to Lucknow as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) management has arranged a ticket for him ahead of the team’s upcoming fixture against the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Dhoni has not participated in any games this season and has limited travel with the team for away matches.
The former CSK captain is coping with a calf injury sustained prior to the IPL 2026 season. Initially, CSK indicated that Dhoni might be sidelined for the first two weeks, but his absence has raised concerns among fans about whether they will see the legendary player in action at all this year.
Confirmation from CSK Management
According to a report from Cricbuzz, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed that Dhoni’s ticket for a commercial flight to Lucknow has been booked, where CSK will compete against the Lucknow Super Giants on Friday, May 15. At 44 years old, Dhoni has not played any matches this season and has only accompanied the team on two away trips—one to Hyderabad and the other to Mumbai. He has also missed all of CSK’s home games at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Delayed Return
CSK head coach Stephen Fleming provided an update in late April, stating that Dhoni experienced a setback in his recovery. In a post-match press conference following CSK’s loss to the Gujarat Titans, Fleming mentioned that Dhoni had re-injured his calf. “He’s pretty keen,” Fleming noted regarding Dhoni’s desire to return to the field.
Uncertainty Surrounding Hardik Pandya
The situation surrounding Hardik Pandya remains uncertain as the Mumbai Indians captain reportedly did not travel with his team to Dharamsala for an upcoming match against the Punjab Kings. He was absent from the squad that arrived in Dharamsala on Monday afternoon.
However, similar to his arrival for the match against RCB in Raipur, Hardik may rejoin the team later. Cricbuzz reports that the MI support staff is currently evaluating Hardik’s injury in Mumbai, as he has been dealing with a back spasm that caused him to miss the last two matches.
Furthermore, Suryakumar Yadav also did not accompany the MI squad but is expected to rejoin later due to personal reasons, following the recent birth of his child. Yadav had rejoined the MI team late in their game against Raipur previously, and the same scenario is anticipated this time.
ALSO READ: Hardik Pandya fitness update: Will MI captain play vs RCB in Raipur? All-rounder set to join squad.
