Chennai Super Kings batting coach Michael Hussey stated on Thursday that MS Dhoni will reclaim his position as wicketkeeper upon recovering from a calf injury, rather than serving only as an impact substitute. The 44-year-old has sat out his seventh consecutive IPL 2026 match during Thursday’s encounter with Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium. He has been sidelined since March 28 due to the injury, which was initially projected to keep him out for two weeks. There was discussion about Dhoni possibly rejoining as a dedicated batsman under the impact player rule, given the availability of Sanju Samson and Kartik Sharma for wicketkeeping duties.
Hussey rejected that idea, affirming Dhoni’s return to his standard role behind the wickets.
‘I believe he will definitely handle wicketkeeping. His main concern is the calf injury, particularly with running and quick singles or doubles late in the innings. He must ensure the calf can handle that strain,’ Hussey explained in a broadcast interview during the game.
‘From a technical standpoint, his keeping skills are well-known, and his batting is in excellent form. It’s about building assurance in the calf,’ he continued.
Dhoni’s non-participation has been a major topic in discussions surrounding CSK’s fixtures.
During the coin toss before the Mumbai Indians match, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad noted the absence, commenting on the crowd’s response and crediting ‘the legend who is unfortunately missing.’
Despite the prolonged recovery, Dhoni showed signs of improvement by practicing wicketkeeping in the nets the day before the game—his initial session of this type in the season. However, he was omitted from the lineup once more, having now missed half of CSK’s matches.
Providing an update, Hussey indicated Dhoni is advancing positively but not fully prepared for competition.
‘He is making good progress and is eager to return soon. Fans are keen to see him play, and we share that hope for the upcoming matches. We aim for his swift comeback,’ Hussey said.
‘But he has to be nearly fully fit to perform at his peak. His net sessions look strong, especially batting. He just needs to test hard running between the wickets,’ he added.
CSK’s next fixture is against Gujarat Titans in Chennai on Sunday.
(Aside from the title, this report is unedited by NDTV staff and comes from a syndicated source.)
