For the first time in this IPL season, MS Dhoni turned up at a venue on Chennai Super Kings' matchday. And with the long wait at the MA Chidambaram Stadium finally ending, the sighting triggered quite a frenzy. As Dhoni stepped out of the team bus and made his way into the Chepauk stadium, the fans and experts, in unison, could not help but wonder if Monday was finally the day the legend would make his first appearance this season. But captain Ruturaj Gaikwad killed the buzz straightaway at the toss, with a worrying update.
Chennai Super Kings' MS Dhoni during a practice session ahead of an IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (PTI)
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As Dhoni watched from the Chepauk dressing room, Gaikwad silenced the home crowd after Ravi Shastri was compelled to ask the burning question. "He's still here, but he's not fit enough to play this game," he said after opting to bat first against Sunrisers Hyderabad in CSK's final home game this season.
Why MS Dhoni’s long-awaited Chepauk return did not lead to IPL 2026 comeback?
Dhoni had trained on Sunday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, where he faced throwdowns and spinners for close to 40 minutes before leaving. But that alone could not single-handedly indicate his return for the match against SRH. Dhoni has been fairly regular with his appearances in practice sessions, but they have largely been minimal. The only time he went further than just facing throwdowns was before a match against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, where he even kept the wickets in the training session. The frenzy had reached fever pitch after the sighting. But neither did he turn up at the venue on matchday, nor was he part of the playing XI.
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However, this time, Dhoni went a step further, showing his presence at the Chepauk, sparking almost a feeling of certainty over his maiden appearance this season. Then why didn't he appear in the game?
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However, this time, Dhoni went a step further, showing his presence at the Chepauk, sparking almost a feeling of certainty over his maiden appearance this season. Then why didn't he appear in the game?
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According to a report in The Indian Express, Dhoni had suffered a fresh injury setback, in addition to the two consecutive calf strains that kept him on the sidelines throughout the season. He incurred a thumb injury during a net session right before CSK's trip to Lucknow. The management had booked his flight tickets to Lucknow, but he decided to stay back in Chennai.
The report also revealed that while Dhoni did not show any signs of visible discomfort when batting in the nets on Sunday, it was after the session that he decided not to feature in the game against the Sunrisers as he is still not 100 per cent fit.
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CSK fans will keep their fingers crossed, as the team still has one more game remaining in the league stage, against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. And should they qualify, it will leave another possibility for Dhoni to appear.
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/Why MS Dhoni’s long-awaited Chepauk return did not lead to IPL 2026 comeback for CSK in SRH game
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