MS Dhoni's Fitness Update Ahead of CSK vs KKR Clash

As Chennai Super Kings gear up to face Kolkata Knight Riders, MS Dhoni's fitness remains a concern. Despite a light practice session, he is unlikely to play due to a calf strain. Dhoni has missed all IPL matches this season, and his return to full fitness is still uncertain. Head coach Stephen Fleming highlights Dhoni's significant influence on the team, even in his absence. With an impressive IPL career behind him, fans are eager to see if he can make a comeback soon. Read on for more details about Dhoni's condition and the upcoming match.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 14, 2026, 01:53 IST

Dhoni's Uncertain Return for CSK

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India] - April 13: MS Dhoni, the legendary figure of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), had a brief practice session in the nets as his team prepares to face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who have won the IPL title three times, at Chepauk Stadium. However, reports from ESPNCricinfo suggest that he is still unlikely to participate in this match.

Due to a calf strain, Dhoni has been absent from all four of CSK's IPL matches this season and is expected to miss the fifth game against KKR as well. The 44-year-old cricketer is currently focused on regaining his fitness. On March 28, CSK announced that Dhoni would be sidelined for the initial two weeks of the season for rehabilitation. Although this period has now passed, he has yet to show he is ready for match play.

During his recent training, Dhoni has not batted at full intensity, primarily facing throwdowns from batting coach and former CSK teammate Michael Hussey. Notably, he has also refrained from practicing wicketkeeping during these sessions.

The iconic player has not accompanied the team for their away matches in Guwahati and Bengaluru, nor has he been present at Chepauk on match days.

In a pre-match press conference before their game against the Punjab Kings (PBKS), head coach Stephen Fleming emphasized Dhoni's significant role within the team, stating, “It is just a game without him. He is still heavily involved in the side, and his influence remains very strong.”

Throughout his IPL career, Dhoni has participated in 278 matches, accumulating 5,439 runs across 242 innings, with an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45. His record includes 24 half-centuries and a top score of 84*. He ranks as the sixth-highest run-scorer in IPL history. Last season, during a challenging campaign for CSK, he managed to score 196 runs in 13 innings, averaging 24.50 with a strike rate exceeding 135, and a best score of 30*.

Kolkata Knight Riders Squad: Ajinkya Rahane(c), Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Navdeep Saini, Kartik Tyagi, Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, Tejasvi Dahiya, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Blessing Muzarabani, Saurabh Dubey, Sarthak Ranjan, Rachin Ravindra, Prashant Solanki, Varun Chakaravarthy, Matheesha Pathirana, Umran Malik, Daksh Kamra

Chennai Super Kings Squad: Sanju Samson(w), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Matthew Short, Akeal Hosein, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Matt Henry, Ramakrishna Ghosh, MS Dhoni, Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Chahar, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary, Urvil Patel, Aman Khan, Zakary Foulkes.