MS Dhoni available for the MI vs CSK IPL 2026 match? Check details

Since the very beginning of the IPL 2026, fans have been eagerly waiting to see MS Dhoni on the pitch; however, due to a calf strain, Dhoni has not yet been able to play a single match. For the past few days, there have been persistent reports regarding his return, yet Dhoni has still not made an appearance on the field. Videos of Dhoni's continuous practice sessions have been surfacing, and he even travelled with the team to Hyderabad—leading to speculation that he would play in the CSK vs SRH match—but Dhoni did not play in that match either.

CSK sorely felt Dhoni's absence in that game, and the team ended up losing a match they had all but won by a margin of 10 runs. Currently, the CSK team has managed to win only 2 out of their 6 matches and sits in 7th position on the points table. Recently, the team's coach, Michael Hussey, provided an update on MS Dhoni, stating that nothing definitive can be said regarding his return at this moment, as he is still recovering from the calf strain. 

According to the latest updates, MS Dhoni's availability for selection does not depend solely on how he is performing with the bat.

“Not really, I’m not sure,” when asked if there was any clarity on Dhoni’s return. He added, “He’s progressing nicely with his rehab, and I’m happy with how he’s batting.” Mike Hussey said.

“It’s just about progressing with his running, because if he’s going to bat towards the back end of the innings, he’ll need to be able to run quick singles and twos.” He further added, “He just needs to build confidence in his running and improve his speed.” The final line from Hussey summed up the current situation: “I don’t know when he’ll play, but I’m hoping it’s sooner rather than later, like all the fans.” 

Chennai Super Kings will face the Mumbai Indians in their next cricket match on April 23 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Fans are hoping that Dhoni will completely recover ahead of the game and will feature in this important clash. As per the current situation, Chennai Super Kings will have to win at least games out of the remaining 8 games; otherwise, they will be eliminated from the playoff race.

Right now, CSK is looking for specialist finishers for their lineup, and no one is better than MS Dhoni in this role. They are currently using Jamie Overton, Shivam Dube, and Dewald Brevis as finishers, but they haven't yet fulfilled the fan hopes. CSK's ambition will grow if MS Dhoni plays in the match against MI and throughout the season.