MS Dhoni's Absence from IPL 2026 Matches Explained by CSK Coach
Dhoni's Decision to Skip Matches
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India] - On May 1, Chennai Super Kings' batting coach Michael Hussey revealed that MS Dhoni opted not to attend the IPL 2026 matches to avoid distracting his teammates.
Hussey explained that Dhoni was worried that the spotlight, including crowd reactions and media attention, would divert focus from the team's performance. He believed it was essential for the players to concentrate without any added pressure.
Due to a calf muscle injury sustained during the pre-season training, Dhoni has not participated in any matches for CSK in the current IPL season.
Hussey addressed reporters ahead of CSK's crucial match against the Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
“MS Dhoni is incredibly team-focused. He prioritizes the team's needs and felt that his presence might create unnecessary distractions. The cameras would undoubtedly be on him, and the crowd's cheers could shift the focus away from the game. He genuinely wanted the team to perform without any external influences,” Hussey stated.
Although Dhoni has been with CSK since March and has participated in practice sessions that have been widely shared on social media, he has yet to play in any official matches.
Hussey also provided an update on Dhoni's recovery, indicating that he is making good progress and could return to the field soon, potentially in the next match. The primary concern remains ensuring that Dhoni fully recovers from his calf injury.
While there are no doubts about Dhoni's batting and wicketkeeping abilities, his return hinges on his confidence in his fitness level before he is cleared to play.
“We hope to see him back soon. I can't say if it will be tomorrow or the following match, but he is improving significantly. He has been increasing his running speeds, which was a crucial factor. We are confident in his skills, but it’s vital that he can maintain his running power, especially towards the end of an innings when he needs to assess singles and twos. Once he feels confident in his calf, I’m sure he will be ready to play,” Hussey added.