Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull has suggested that MS Dhoni’s absence from CSK in IPL 2026 may be deliberate.
The 44-year-old former CSK skipper has not played any matches in this IPL season as he’s recovering from a calf strain. There has been lots of speculation over when he could return, but he is yet to return to action.
Doull was speaking to Cricbuzz about Dhoni’s absence from the ground. He suggested that this absence wasn’t just about fitness, but also wanting to stay away from the limelight so CSK could get used to life without him.
“He’s staying away from the ground to make sure the team is ruthless” – Simon Doull
Simon Doull said that MS Dhoni was keeping himself away so that the new leadership of captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and senior players like Sanju Samson around him could breathe.
Doull said, “What MS is doing so well is he’s staying away. He’s staying away from the ground… trying in his best possible way, from an absolute legend of the game, to make sure that when they get to the ground, the team is ruthless.”
MS Dhoni stays away from the ground
Dhoni had spent the start of the season away from the ground. His absence was initially reported to be for just two weeks, but it has only grown.
Dhoni travelled with the CSK team to Hyderabad for their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, giving rise to speculation that he might, in fact, feature in that game.
Despite travelling to Hyderabad, he chose not to appear on the ground as CSK suffered a narrow 10-run defeat.
When the team arrived in Mumbai for the El Clásico clash against the Mumbai Indians, MS Dhoni appeared at the training nets for the first time this season. In the nets, Dhoni was seen practicing both his batting and wicketkeeping skills.
CSK rise to fifth on the points table
With MS Dhoni honing his glove skills in the nets, speculation was very heavy that he would feature against MI at the Wankhede Stadium. Ultimately, he stayed away and did not arrive at the ground.
Chennai Super Kings did not let that be a deterrent and put up a comprehensive performance. Sanju Samson scored his second century of the season and played a lone hand to drag CSK past the 200-run mark. In fact, after Samson’s hundred, the next highest individual score by a CSK batter was Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 22.
Akeal Hosein took two wickets in the powerplay as MI suffered an early collapse. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma tried their best to stabilise the collapse, but Akeal Hosein removed them both to seal the win for CSK.
MI’s tail did not provide too much resistance as CSK went up to fifth place on the points table after a 103-run win.
MS Dhoni’s return will undoubtedly be a confidence boost for CSK as they will strive to build upon their dominant win against MI to push for the playoffs.
