IPL 2026: MS Dhoni has resumed wicketkeeping in training, raising hopes of a return for Chennai Super Kings ahead of their upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
The former India captain, who has missed the initial phase of the tournament, was seen training with gloves during a practice session on Tuesday, April 21. CSK shared a video of the session on social media, where Dhoni appeared in good spirits and was even seen playfully teasing a batter after completing a stumping.
Dhoni has been sidelined for the first two weeks of IPL 2026 due to injury but has remained closely involved with the squad. He travelled with the team to Hyderabad for their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, although he did not feature in the playing XI.
CSK batting coach Michael Hussey said the former CSK captain is progressing well in his recovery but stopped short of confirming a return date. “He’s progressing nicely with his rehab. I’m happy with how he’s batting,” Hussey said after CSK’s 10-run loss to SRH.
Hussey added that Dhoni’s recovery is focused on regaining running fitness, particularly for quick running between the wickets in the latter stages of an innings.
"As you saw yesterday at training, he's batting well. He was very happy with where his batting is at. He's just about progressing with his running, because if he's going to bat towards the back end of the innings, he's going to have to scurry back for those twos and things like that. He just needs to get confidence in his running and build that speed up,” he said. “I don't know when he'll play, but I'm hoping it's sooner rather than later, like all the fans are."
CSK, currently struggling for consistency this season, could benefit from Dhoni’s experience as they prepare for a crucial encounter against Mumbai Indians. The franchise, however, has not made an official announcement regarding his availability for the match.
It also remains unclear whether he will slot straight back into the starting XI or be utilised as an Impact Substitute, particularly in batting situations.