As Chennai Super Kings prepare to take on Mumbai Indians at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on April 23, 2026, the biggest question surrounding the clash is simple: MS Dhoni Return to action?The final decision on Dhoni’s participation will be taken before the toss on the match day. While his starting lineup has yet to be officially confirmed, there are encouraging signs that his return may be imminent. Dhoni has been training actively at the Wankhede and spent nearly 40 minutes in intense batting and wicketkeeping drills. His inclusion in the full practice session showed his steady progress and boosted the hopes of the CSK camp.Health status updates and medical clearanceCSK bowling consultant Eric Simmons made it clear that Dhoni will play in the tournament only if both Dhoni and the medical staff are completely satisfied with his fitness. The veteran has been recovering from a calf strain that caused him to miss the first six games of the season.“He and the medical staff will take a decision on him (Dhoni) tomorrow if he is fully ready to go,” Simmons said on the eve of the match.Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad also confirmed that Dhoni is “slowly and steadily” returning to full fitness, adding that the injury occurred during an intra-squad practice session when Dhoni felt unwell while running.“We were playing a practice match; that’s when he [MS Dhoni] He broke his calf and then he couldn’t run as comfortably as he wanted to and I think after that he just saw some of the youngsters playing in practice matches or simulated matches and he had enough confidence in them that they were ready and capable of playing in the IPL. After that, he needed time to recover, and slowly, slowly he got there. Never know, maybe the next game, maybe after that, but definitely one day,” Gaikwad said.
The role he might play if he plays
Even if he is declared fit, Dhoni may not shoulder the full workload right away. He’s expected to be an impact player, allowing the team to carefully manage his health while still benefiting from his experience and finishing ability. Sanju Samson has been shouldering the wicketkeeping duties in his absence but the team is keen on Dhoni’s return to provide experience to a team currently eighth in the points table
