Dhoni targets Tuesday return for CSK as fitness tests continue ahead of KKR clash
Chennai Super Kings may finally have their talisman back. MS Dhoni, who has sat out all four of CSK's matches so far in IPL 2026 with a calf strain, is being lined up for a potential return when Kolkata Knight Riders visit Chepauk on Tuesday for Match 22.
The 44-year-old has been progressing through rehabilitation in Chennai under team supervision and was spotted jogging inside the MA Chidambaram Stadium during a recent training session. He has also returned to batting in the nets, a step that has lifted the mood around the squad.
Fleming confirms Dhoni is pushing for return
Head coach Stephen Fleming offered an encouraging update ahead of CSK's clash with Delhi Capitals on April 11. "He's working hard to get back," Fleming said, though he stopped short of naming a specific date. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan struck a similar tone, confirming there was no fixed timeline but acknowledging that Dhoni's progress had been positive.
Dhoni passed an initial fitness test earlier this week but was held back from the DC game as the management chose not to rush his comeback. CSK won that match comfortably, with Sanju Samson hammering an unbeaten 115 off 56 balls and Jamie Overton picking up four wickets as the franchise claimed a 23-run victory and their first points of the season.
Both sides desperate for points
That result eased some of the pressure on a side that had lost their opening three games. KKR arrive in Chennai in similarly poor shape, having managed just one point from four matches after their game against Punjab Kings was washed out. A bottom-of-the-table clash at Chepauk is hardly what either side envisaged at the start of the season, but it gives both a genuine chance to gain ground.
Dhoni will need to clear at least one more fitness assessment before being considered for selection. If he passes, it would end a frustrating wait that began before the tournament when he sustained the calf injury during pre-season training.
CSK have coped without him thanks partly to Samson's brilliance with the gloves and the bat, but Dhoni's influence stretches well beyond his own performances. His reading of the game, his handling of bowlers in the death overs and the calm he brings to pressure situations are not things that show up on a scorecard.
Tuesday's clash with KKR at Chepauk starts at 7:30 PM IST.
Cricket Updates
