It will not be the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, but the following week could finally mark MS Dhoni’s return. According to a recent media report, the former Chennai Super Kings captain is set to make his first appearance in IPL 2026 against the Mumbai Indians on April 23 at the Wankhede Stadium.
MS Dhoni has not played in CSK's first five games this season (PTI)
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According to a report in The Indian Express, the 44-year-old, who has been sidelined since the start of the season and has missed CSK’s first five matches, is close to regaining full fitness. The report added that there is still no confirmation on whether Dhoni will travel with the squad for the match against Hyderabad.
Since suffering a calf injury, Dhoni has not travelled with the team for away games and has instead been recuperating in Chennai, where his family is currently based. He was also not seen at the MA Chidambaram Stadium during home matches, which sparked speculation. However, the report stated that Dhoni has been closely following the team’s performances from the team hotel.
Dhoni has, however, been present during training sessions at Chepauk for all three home games this season. He even underwent light batting sessions, restricting himself to throwdowns, without showing any signs of discomfort.
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Dhoni has, however, been present during training sessions at Chepauk for all three home games this season. He even underwent light batting sessions, restricting himself to throwdowns, without showing any signs of discomfort.
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Despite his absence on match days, Dhoni continues to influence the squad. Earlier this week, bowling coach Sridharan Sriram revealed how a detailed interaction with Noor Ahmad during training helped the spinner bounce back to form and deliver a match-winning performance against Delhi Capitals.
Chennai endured a difficult start to the season, losing their first three matches to slip to the bottom of the table. However, they bounced back with two consecutive wins at home to climb to eighth place.
CSK will now look to carry that momentum into away fixtures, beginning with their clash against Hyderabad on April 18.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Cricket/MS Dhoni comeback loading, April 23 Mumbai Indians clash tipped as return date in IPL 2026: Report
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