Why is MS Dhoni not in CSK dugout during IPL 2026 matches? Michael Hussey r...

Why is MS Dhoni not in CSK dugout during IPL 2026 matches? Michael Hussey r. KEY TAKEAWAYS: - MS Dhoni is recovering from a calf injury and could return very soon. - CSK have won just three of eight games and sit sixth on the table. - Dhoni stayed away from CSK matches to avoid becoming a team distraction. Why does MS Dhoni not sit in the CSK dugout during IPL 2026? MS Dhoni has not been in action for the Chennai Super Kings throughout IPL 2026. Moreover, surprisingly, he has chosen to stay away from the CSK dugout as well. He has travelled with the team on a few occasions but did not board the team bus to the stadium. Now, batting coach Michael Hussey has set the record straight about Dhoni's absence. The explanation says a great deal about the kind of person Dhoni is. Hussey revealed that Dhoni made a deliberate choice to stay away from CSK's IPL 2026 matches to prevent himself from becoming a source of distraction for the players on the field. MORE: CSK vs MI: Why are there no double-headers on Saturday, May 2 in IPL 2026? Hes such a team-oriented guy, MS Dhoni. He always wants whats best for the team, and he was worried that if he came, thered be a bit too much of a distraction, Hussey said. Obviously, the cameras would be on him a lot. The crowd would be cheering for him and things like that. And he really wanted the team to just be able to go about their job, do our thing. Hussey added that whether the decision was right or wrong was not for him to judge, but acknowledged that Dhoni had been watching closely from home. When can MS Dhoni return to action? Will he play against Mumbai Indians? Despite not taking his place in the dugout during games, Dhoni has hardly been invisible. He has been a regular presence during training sessions and practice games since the pre-season in March. his interactions with players and his dressing room contributions have remained a valued part of the CSK setup throughout the campaign. The problem has been a persistent calf complaint that has prevented him from taking the field. Head coach Stephen Fleming recently confirmed that the injury had worsened when Dhoni tweaked his calf again during a warm-up session, pushing back his expected return date well beyond the initial two-week timeline. MORE: CSK's IPL 2026 playoff chances: Qualification scenarios, wins and points required However, Hussey offered the most encouraging update to date on when fans might finally see Dhoni back in whites. The main sticking point has been building sufficient running speed, with Hussey noting that Dhoni's batting and wicketkeeping abilities are not in question at all. Hopefully, hell be back as soon as possible. I dont know if its tomorrow or maybe the next match after that, but hes progressing really well, Hussey noted. I know hes been upping his running speeds, and that was probably the sticking point. I think were very confident from a skill perspective with his batting and his wicketkeeping. The Cricket News Opinion: The real Dhoni has always been this There is something deeply characteristic about this story. Any other player of Dhoni's fame and status would probably want to be at the ground, soaking in the cheers. Dhoni chose to stay home so the spotlight would fall on the team instead. Whether or not he returns this season, that decision alone is a reminder of why Chennai fell in love with him in the first place. He never made it about himself. He still isn't. To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X Twitter pages.