MS Dhoni’s return from a calf strain has been delayed after the injury became worse during a warm-up match ahead of IPL 2026, Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming said.Fleming gave the update after CSK’s eight-wicket loss to Gujarat Titans in MA
Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.Dhoni has been with the team since March and was seen in training sessions and warm-up matches, but he has not played any of CSK’s eight matches so far. He was also not on the ground on match days.
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Fleming said the injury remained a concern as another setback could see Donnie ruled out for the whole season.“Calf is tough,” CSK coach Stephen Fleming said after they lost to Gujarat Titans by eight wickets on Sunday.
“If he took off and tore the calf again, it would be gone [for the whole season]. So we paid it early. In a warm-up match, he tweaked it again, from what I understand. Since then, he’s been working hard to get some movement into it. “But there was a setback,” Fleming said during the press conference.The 44-year-old has played Indian Premier League matches in the past carrying injuries, but this time the recovery is taking longer than CSK expected.
Four days ago, CSK also shared a video on social media where captain Ruturaj Gaikwad explained what happened in the pre-season.“As you know, we were playing a training match. Then he broke his calf and was unable to run comfortably as he wanted,” he said.“And I think after that, it was about seeing some of the youngsters playing in the training matches and playing in the match simulations where he felt confident enough about them, you know, who are ready, who have that ability to play in the ISL.”“After that, it was just a matter of taking some time to recover. Slowly, slowly, he gets there. I never know, maybe the next game, maybe after that, but definitely one day for sure.”CSK currently stands sixth in the IPL 2026 points table after eight matches, with three wins and five losses.They have six league matches remaining this season, with their next match being at home against Mumbai Indians on May 2.