Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni has not travelled to New Delhi for the side’s upcoming clash against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Tuesday, May 6, choosing instead to stay back in Chennai to continue his recovery from a calf injury.
Although he is not fully match-fit at the moment, franchise officials have kept the door open for a possible return later in the season, with CSK still having five matches left to play.
“He should be available at some stage,” a senior team official told Cricbuzz.
Following their match against Delhi Capitals (DC), CSK will take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at home on May 10. They are then set to travel to Lucknow for the reverse fixture against Rishabh Pant’s side on May 15. The team will return to Chennai to face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 18, before wrapping up their league campaign against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on May 21.
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni is yet to make an appearance this season, with his most recent IPL outing coming against GT on May 25, 2025. The experienced wicketkeeper-batter continues to remain out with a calf injury, although the franchise has not entirely dismissed the possibility of him returning later in the tournament.
CSK Eye Playoff Spot but Must Win 4 of Remaining Games to Stay Alive
CSK are currently placed sixth on the points table, with four wins from nine matches so far. Despite a patchy run this season, they are still in the race for a playoff berth. However, to have a strong chance of finishing in the top four, the five-time champions will likely need to win at least four of their remaining games.
Their campaign got off to a tough start with three straight defeats against Rajasthan Royals (RR), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). They responded well with victories over Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but inconsistency crept in again with losses to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Gujarat Titans (GT).
Still, they showed resilience by registering back-to-back wins over Mumbai Indians (MI). Meanwhile, the veteran’s IPL career has been exceptional, amassing 5,439 runs in 278 matches at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45, along with 24 half-centuries. He also led the franchise to five IPL titles, building a lasting legacy.
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