The speculation surrounding MS Dhoni’s role in IPL 2026 and the potential use of the Impact Player rule to include him in the XI remains unresolved as the India legend has yet to feature this season due to a calf injury. Despite initial indications that he would be out for two weeks, there is still no clarity on his return three weeks into the tournament, leading to criticism from former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar towards the Chennai Super Kings management.
In Dhoni’s absence, Chennai has struggled with a patchy start to the season, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad facing criticism for the team’s performance. Manjrekar defended Gaikwad and placed the blame on the CSK management for mishandling the situation. He highlighted the challenges faced by Gaikwad amidst the overwhelming fandom surrounding Dhoni and questioned how Dhoni’s potential return could impact the team.
As the uncertainty continues, Chennai still have no clarity on Dhoni’s availability for their next game against the Mumbai Indians. Batting coach Michael Hussey mentioned that Dhoni is progressing well with his rehab, but there is no confirmation on his return to the playing XI.
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