CSK’s batting coach, Michael Hussey, revealed that MS Dhoni may return to the Chennai camp only if the team qualifies for the IPL 2026 playoffs. Despite managing to recover from a calf injury, Dhoni suffered a fresh thumb injury during training, leading to his absence from the ongoing matches. Hussey mentioned that if CSK secures a playoff spot, Dhoni will rejoin the team.
As CSK currently sits outside the top four with 12 points from 13 matches, their chances of making it to the playoffs are uncertain. Dhoni has returned to Ranchi for isolated recovery, indicating a possible end to his IPL 2026 campaign if CSK fails to qualify. If CSK loses to the Gujarat Titans and misses out on the playoffs, Dhoni’s record for this season would show zero matches played and zero runs scored, marking a quiet exit for the iconic player. The fate of Dhoni’s final IPL appearance now rests on the outcome of CSK’s crucial matches in Ahmedabad.
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