Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni (PTI Image)
Mumbai: Are legendary captain MS Dhoni and England star Will Jacks set to return to action in Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings’ big clash at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday night? After days of anticipation, this may be the case. Dhoni trained extensively against CSK in Wankhede on Tuesday night. Notably, he kept wicket for about half an hour and also batted for about 30 minutes. The 44-year-old, who suffered a calf strain during the pre-season camp, was seen shooting the ball fluently without any apparent discomfort. However, Dhoni was also training with CSK in Chennai earlier. CSK currently stands at eighth position in the IPL 2026 points table, with two wins and four losses.
His potential return would add valuable depth to their batting. Meanwhile, Jack has finally arrived in India after missing MI’s first six matches. The England star, who was a standout performer in the 2026 T20 World Cup with four Player of the Match awards, trained against MI at Wankhede on Monday between 5pm and 6pm, and also took part in an optional training session under the lights on Tuesday. The 27-year-old bowled and batted for nearly an hour.
His arrival is a major boost for MI, whose campaign regained momentum following a dominant 99-run win over Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday night. Jack’s arrival was delayed due to undisclosed reasons, as the MI management refrained from revealing details about his absence during the first three weeks of IPL 2026. His presence was eagerly awaited by both the management and fans. As a solid middle-order batsman and a capable bowler, Jacks is strengthening both departments at MI.
His inclusion could force the team to drop one of their overseas players – Allah Ghazanfar or Mitchell Santner. Having made several useful cameos in the sixth and seventh overs for England during the T20 World Cup, Jacks also offers MI a reliable finishing option. Spencer Johnson joins CSK In another boost for CSK, Australian Spencer Johnson, who was signed as a replacement for Nathan Ellis, joined the team in Mumbai on Tuesday ahead of the big clash. The left-arm pacer trained with the team in Wankhede and is expected to feature in the starting line-up on Thursday evening, potentially replacing Khaleel Ahmed, who was ruled out through injury last week. Injuries have taken a toll on CSK’s campaign after a slow start. In their previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, young batsman Aayush Mhatre suffered a hamstring injury, ruling him out of the remainder of the IPL 2026.
