IPL 2026: MS Dhoni skips Delhi trip, continues rehab in Chennai

Published - 04 May 2026, 14:19 IST | Updated - 04 May 2026, 14:30 IST

Former captain of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) MS Dhoni has not travelled to New Delhi for the team’s upcoming match against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Tuesday, May 6. He has remained in Chennai to continue rehabilitation for a calf injury.

While Dhoni is currently not match-fit, franchise officials have not ruled out his participation later in the season. CSK still have five matches remaining.

"He should be available at some stage," a senior team official told Cricbuzz.

After their clash with Delhi Capitals (DC), CSK will host Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 10. They will then travel to Lucknow for the return fixture against Rishabh Pant’s side on May 15. CSK return home to face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 18 before concluding their league stage against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on May 21.

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Meanwhile, Dhoni is yet to feature this season, with his last IPL appearance coming against GT on May 25, 2025. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter remains sidelined due to a calf injury, though the franchise has not completely ruled out his return later in the tournament.

CSK currently sit sixth on the points table, having secured four wins from nine matches. Despite an inconsistent campaign, they remain in contention for a playoff spot. To realistically qualify for the top four, the five-time champions will likely need to win at least four of their remaining fixtures.

Their season began on a difficult note with three consecutive losses to Rajasthan Royals (RR), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). However, they bounced back with wins over Delhi and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Mixed results followed, including defeats to Hyderabad and Gujarat, but they managed a strong comeback by defeating Mumbai Indians (MI) twice.

The veteran’s IPL career remains remarkable, with 5,439 runs in 278 matches at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45, including 24 half-centuries. He led the franchise to five IPL titles and carved out his own legacy.