A fresh wave of excitement has gripped fans of Chennai Super Kings after a training clip of MS Dhoni surfaced online, just days after he was ruled out of the opening phase of the Indian Premier League 2026. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter is currently recovering from a calf strain, with the franchise initially indicating he could miss at least the first two weeks of the tournament.

While there is no official confirmation on his return date, reports suggest MS Dhoni might be sidelined for up to six matches, including a high-profile clash against the Mumbai Indians. However, the viral training footage has sparked optimism among supporters, hinting that the 44-year-old could make a quicker-than-expected comeback.

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MS Dhoni’s fitness has been closely monitored ever since his heroic effort in IPL 2023, where he led CSK to the title despite playing through a knee injury. Following that campaign, he underwent surgery and has since adapted his role, primarily batting in the lower order.

Kodiyil Oruvan! 🦁💛#WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/SuztJYGNzr

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 1, 2026

Even with limited opportunities, MS Dhoni delivered impactful cameos last season, scoring 196 runs at a strike rate of over 135.CSK, meanwhile, have had a disappointing start to their 2026 campaign. In their opener against Rajasthan Royals, they were bowled out for a modest 127, with only Jamie Overton offering resistance with a fighting 43, eventually teh knock went in vain.

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Rajasthan chased down the target comfortably, powered by a stunning knock from young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored a 15-ball fifty and took teh game away from CSK. With CSK currently at the bottom of the points table, Dhoni’s return could prove crucial in stabilising both their batting and leadership moving forward.