Former India player Ravichandran Ashwin believes MS Dhoni may only return to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) if the team falls out of the IPL 2026 playoff race.CSK have won just three of their eight matches so far in the IPL 2026 season, but there is still no clear update on Dhoni’s return.Since the beginning of the tournament, Dhoni has been suffering from a calf injury. He was expected to return for CSK’s last match against Gujarat Titans, but that did not happen. Ashwin, who was part of the CSK squad last season, shared his view on his YouTube channel and said that the franchise would not want to take any risks while they are still in the race for the playoffs.“If CSK bow out of the tournament, MS Dhoni might play.
CSK is still in the tournament, so why should they take the risk now? I still feel CSK has a chance to qualify for the playoffs. But yes, it is difficult. The way CSK played in the last five matches, it gave them a bit of confidence. “CSK’s bowling is firing and if their batting catches on, they can pull off three bounce-back wins,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Earlier, CSK coach Stephen Fleming also said that Dhoni’s injury is serious enough that the team cannot rush him back.
Fleming explained that if Donnie returns early and hurts his calf again, he could miss the rest of the season.“The calf is tough, though. If he dislocated it and tore it again, it would be gone. We pushed it early, and in the warm-up game he tweaked it again, that’s what I understand. Since then, he’s been working hard to get some movement, but there was a setback, so it took longer than we thought.“He’s the guide on this, he’s working hard with the physio and doing all the rehab, and we’re just waiting for the word.
All I can say is stop taking it lightly, he is stepping up and giving everything he can,” Fleming said on Sunday after CSK’s loss.Ashwin also said that CSK should fully focus on their next match against Mumbai Indians and try to win the remaining matches.“If CSK has to stay in the tournament, they have to win the next match. If you can beat MI, you can go back to the middle of the table. All the remaining matches for CSK, they will play on good wickets, and even Ruturaj is back to his form. Winning four out of six matches is not difficult,” he added.
