Will MS Dhoni Play in the MI vs CSK IPL 2026 El Clásico?
MI vs CSK: MS Dhoni looks like a safe bet to play in CSK’s big game against Mumbai Indians on April 23, 2026, at the Wankhede Stadium. Fans have been waiting over three weeks for this, and the latest news from his training sessions is exactly what they wanted to hear.
The 44-year-old hasn’t played since the season opener, sitting out six matches while nursing a calf strain. However, on April 21 at the Wankhede, Dhoni was back on the field, keeping wickets for nearly 40 minutes before putting on his pads to bat for almost an hour. It was a much longer and more intense session than anything he’s tried so far during his recovery.
What’s the status on MS Dhoni?
That hour in the nets said it all. He started off facing CSK’s own bowlers and then moved on to throwdowns from the coaching staff, finishing the whole session without any obvious pain. Batting coach Mike Hussey, who’s been keeping a close eye on him, summed it up: “He’s just progressing with his running, because obviously he’s going to bat at the back-end of the innings; he needs to get confidence in his running and build that speed up.” It’s clear where CSK stand: the body is holding up, but they aren’t going to rush him.
CSK have had a rough time with injuries this year. Before the season even started, Nathan Ellis was ruled out. Khaleel Ahmed then got injured right after the team’s first win against the Delhi Capitals, and now Ayush Mhatre is out for the rest of the tournament with a hamstring tear. Urvil Patel is the one stepping in to fill that gap.
He was seen keeping wickets alongside Sarfaraz Khan during Dhoni’s session on Tuesday, and it’s looking more and more likely he’ll be in the XI for the Mumbai game. Whether Sarfaraz moves up to number three is still up in the air; the team management will likely decide that on match day.
Since Sanju Samson has taken over the gloves and recently smashed an unbeaten century against the Delhi Capitals, people are debating how Dhoni fits back into the lineup. A strong option would be to use him as an Impact Player. This would save him from the physical grind of keeping for 20 overs and let him focus entirely on those final few overs with the bat, which is where he’s always been most dangerous anyway.
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Head coach Stephen Fleming said the team are being careful to make sure Dhoni stays fit for the business end of the season, but he mentioned that the progress so far is very promising. CSK are currently sitting eighth on the table and desperately needs their biggest star back in the mix. Seeing MS Dhoni walk back out onto the Wankhede turf on April 23 will be a massive moment for the fans, and for many, that sight alone is worth the wait.
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