Chennai Super Kings Head Coach Stephen Fleming has addressed all the concerns about CSK icon MS Dhoni's continued absence from IPL 2026.
Although CSK have completed as many as 13 matches in the league stage, Dhoni has not played a single one. In fact, he did not even appear at the ground for CSK's matches until Monday, when the team lost to the Sunrisers Hyderabad at their own home ground in Chennai.
CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and decided to bat first. Unfortunately, the decision backfired. Sanju Samson played an aggressive cameo, but Gaikwad could not get going at all.
Despite batting till the 12th over of the innings, Gaikwad made just 15 runs in 21 balls without hitting a single boundary. Ultimately, that cost CSK the match. Kartik Sharma too played a cameo before being dismissed by SRH captain Pat Cummins.
Dewals Brevis tried to salvage CSK's innings with his 44, but SRH's pace battery pulled it back in the second half. Eshan Malinga was economical while Cummins and Sakib Hussain shared five wickets between themselves.
SRH were chasing 181, but both Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma failed to make an impact. Head lasted 6 balls, while Sharma made an uncharacteristic 26 off 20 deliveries.
Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen then took on the mantle with a 75-run stand to bring SRH back into the game. Klassen was especially severe on CSK's spinners before falling to an amazing stumping by Sanju Samson.
Kishan then took on the mantle and saw SRH through with his Player-of-the-Match innings of 70.
"Not my decision" - Fleming on MS Dhoni
After the match, CSK Head Coach Stephen Fleming spoke about Dhoni and his potential return in the press conference.
MS Dhoni has not played any matches for CSK this year. In the early part of the season, he was recuperating from a calf strain, but has reportedly now picked up a thumb injury as well.
Fleming said that, despite his not being on the field, MS Dhoni has been a great influence on everyone in the CSK squad this year.
"It's a choice for the management. I know there has been a lot of talk about it. MS has been around a lot this year, which has been really important for the team, for a lot of the young players, and for continuity. So, he’s been a big part of it. He hasn’t played, but he’s still had a big influence on the team," Fleming said.
Also Read: Heinrich Klaasen loses his temper after Sanju Samson does a MS Dhoni-esque stumping
CSK's next match and qualification scenario
The Chennai Super Kings have one match left in the group stage of IPL 2026 now. They will play the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on May 21.
It remains to be seen whether MS Dhoni will walk out onto the field, especially with qualification at stake.
The only path forward for CSK to qualify for the playoffs now is to win their last match and hope other results go their way. If it comes down to an NRR battle, CSK no longer hold the edge, either.
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