Michael Hussey Optimistic About MS Dhoni's Return in IPL 2026
Hussey Shares Positive Update on Dhoni's Recovery
Michael Hussey, the batting coach for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), conveyed a hopeful message regarding MS Dhoni's potential return during the ongoing IPL 2026 season. Dhoni has not yet participated in the tournament due to a calf strain but has been engaging in net practice. The timeline for his return to the playing squad remains uncertain.
Following CSK's narrow 10-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad, Hussey addressed the media, stating that Dhoni is making good progress in his rehabilitation. He expressed contentment with Dhoni's batting skills, saying, "He's progressing nicely with his rehab. As a batting coach, I am pleased with his performance."
Hussey noted that Dhoni is focusing on enhancing his running fitness and speed, which are crucial for quick runs during the latter stages of an innings. He mentioned, "While I can't specify when he will return, I am optimistic it will be soon. He is performing well in training and is pleased with his batting. However, he needs to regain confidence in his running to effectively contribute towards the end of matches."
Match Recap: SRH vs CSK
In the recent match between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and CSK, SRH secured a victory by 10 runs in a tightly contested game. SRH batted first, scoring 194 runs for 9 wickets, with notable contributions from Abhishek Sharma (59 runs off 22 balls) and Heinrich Klaasen (59 runs off 39 balls). Sharma's rapid fifty set a record, while Klaasen steadied the innings after early setbacks.
CSK's bowlers, including Jamie Overton (3 wickets for 37 runs), Anshul Kamboj (3 wickets for 22 runs), and Mukesh Choudhary (2 wickets for 21 runs), managed to limit SRH's score despite a strong start.
In response, CSK had promising starts from Ayush Mhatre (30 runs off 13 balls), Matthew Short (34 runs off 30 balls), and Sarfaraz Khan (25 runs off 16 balls). However, SRH's bowlers, particularly Eshan Malinga (3 wickets for 29 runs) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (2 wickets for 31 runs), effectively contained CSK's scoring in the middle and final overs. Ultimately, CSK fell short of the target, finishing with 184 runs, as SRH's disciplined bowling played a crucial role in their win.
With this victory, SRH moved up to fourth place in the IPL 2026 standings, achieving three wins out of six matches, while CSK dropped to seventh with only two wins from six games.