Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni did not travel to New Delhi for the match against Delhi Capitals (DC) on May 6, as he is in Chennai for rehabilitation following a calf injury.
Although he is not currently fit to play, team officials have not dismissed the possibility of him returning later this season, with five matches still to go for CSK.
“He should be available at some stage,” a senior team official said.
After facing Delhi Capitals, CSK will play against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 10, followed by a return match in Lucknow on May 15. They will then host Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 18, and wrap up the league stage against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on May 21.
Dhoni has not played this season, with his last match taking place against GT on May 25, 2025. He continues to recover from a calf injury, but the franchise has not entirely ruled out his return for the rest of the tournament.
CSK is currently positioned sixth in the points table with four wins out of nine matches. Despite an uneven season, they still have a chance for a playoff spot. To secure a top-four finish, the five-time champions will likely need to win at least four of their remaining games.
The season started poorly for CSK, with three straight losses to Rajasthan Royals (RR), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). However, they recovered with victories against Delhi and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Their performance fluctuated with more losses to Hyderabad and Gujarat, but they bounced back by defeating Mumbai Indians (MI) twice.
Dhoni’s IPL career remains impressive with 5,439 runs in 278 matches, averaging 38.30 with a strike rate of 137.45, including 24 half-centuries. He has led CSK to five IPL titles and established a significant legacy.