East Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Player Subramaniam Badrinath has doubts about the possible return of MS Dhoni to the team during the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) in the near future.
CSK have finally gained some momentum in the tournament by winning back-to-back games against Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders. The five-time champions have already decided their final eleven, so it will be difficult for them to bring Dhoni back once he is fit to play. This is a matter of concern for Badrinath, who does not expect the former Indian captain to play against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday.
“He is the elephant in the room. There is still no update on his return. But I think he will not play against SRH. Who he will replace remains a big question mark, especially once they have sorted out their combination,” Badrinath said on his YouTube channel.
Badrinath has claimed this Dhoni Not being available for one or two matches is actually a boon for CSK. However, his return is beneficial for the Super Kings both on and off the field.
He said, “It might be fine if he is not back yet. Although his fans want him back, I am not sure how the CSK management sees this situation. If he comes back, Sanju Samson will also have to field. But Dhoni's return will definitely give a boost, especially on the intangibles.”
Dhoni has not played for CSK the entire season as he is recovering from a calf injury. The 44-year-old traveled to Hyderabad with the rest of the team ahead of their game against SRH. He also did a net session before the match, but question marks remain over his availability on Saturday.
Dhoni has not played any professional cricket since the completion of last season's IPL. He played 14 times in 2025 and scored 196 runs at an average of 24.50 and a strike-rate of 135.17. He also captained CSK for most of the season in the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad.
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