CSK management is unsure about MS Dhoni's return for IPL 2026! Bold declaration made

Former CSK batter Subramaniam Badrinath claimed that the team management isn't sure about the timing of MS Dhoni's probable return in IPL 2026. The veteran star has missed out on a quarter of the group-stage games in IPL 2026.

The MS Dhoni-less Chennai Super Kings have managed to win 1 match in the season after having played four matches. They defeated the Delhi Capitals, following a hat trick of losses to the likes of the Rajasthan Royals, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and the Punjab Kings.

They have now risen from the bottom-most position in the points table and will be aiming to build a new winning streak from here on, under their new skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has started to find some rhythm as the captain of the side.

"The team management themselves aren't sure about his return," former CSK batter reveals the massive truth behind Dhoni's return

The former CSK batter Subramaniam Badrinath opined that the team management isn't entirely sure of the date of his return, and also went on to opine that he is absent from the dugout during CSK's games to avoid any attention coming onto him.

The 44-year-old MS Dhoni has been absent from the team's initial games for the first quarter of the matches, and is not yet confirmed to return for any of the remaining 10 games for the Super Kings.

"It's a million-dollar question on whether MS Dhoni will return against KKR. He has started batting, and the team management themselves aren't sure about his return, which Sridharan Sriram told me. He is being assessed day by day on his likely return. Dhoni is probably not coming to the ground to ensure the attention doesn't fall on him," said Badrinath on his YouTube channel.

Subramanium Badrinath excludes in-form star to make way for MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni will return to the XI, possibly later this season; however, he would have to snatch a spot in the XI, replacing one of the players who have been part of the side over the course of the last four games.

Badrinath believes that Sarfaraz Khan, who has been in good touch and showed some promising shotplay, was the frontline CSK batters struggled to score runs for the Men in Yellow.

"It's a big question mark on who he replaces in the side. But there is no option except that he has to come in place of Sarfaraz Khan. Once Dhoni returns, he will be the keeper, and Sanju Samson will be a fielder.

"And down the order, an Indian batter has to drop out, which will be Sarfaraz. But just when the combination seemed sorted, there was confusion on who Dhoni replaces," he added.

"To his credit, he followed them," Badrinath took away the credit for Ruturaj Gaikwad's good captaincy

Subramaniam Badrinath did not back down from criticizing Ruturaj Gaikwad's minimum role with the bat for the Chennai Super Kings. He further highlighted his slow-paced innings, as he scored a scratchy 18-ball 15 despite CSK's successful batting performance.

"Other teams are batting at a different rate compared to CSK in the powerplay. But I still think they won't change the opening combination, given that they, as is, don't change much, and definitely not after a win. What worked for Ruturaj is that the other two in the top three batted brilliantly," said Badrinath (via the aforementioned source).

"His captaincy was excellent, and he made some good changes. I think the likes of Sridharan Sriram, Michael Hussey, and Stephen Fleming sat him down and spoke to him. They might have apprised him of the exact plans on whom to bowl when. They probably gave him the exact blueprint on the specific bowler for each phase. To his credit, he followed them," said Badrinath, while he praised the CSK coaching unit for backing Gaikwad into good captaincy against DC.

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