IPL 2026: CSK boosted as MS Dhoni gears up for Mumbai Indians showdown

CSK’s MS Dhoni during training on Tuesday. Pic/Ashish Raje

Chennai Super Kings's five-time IPL-winning captain MS Dhoni, who was forced to miss the first six games of the ongoing season due to a calf injury, trained hard at the Wankhede Stadium during CSK's evening practice session on Tuesday, enjoying his wicketkeeping as well as some batting, ahead of Thursday's clash against Mumbai Indians.

Dhoni, 44, kept wickets first for around half-an-hour when Mumbai boy Sarfaraz Khan was batting against the spinners. On a few occasions, Dhoni was also seen discussing with Sarfaraz some cut shots the youngster had executed. The former India stumper looked sharp as he pouched balls and attempted a few quick stumpings too.

Dhoni thereafter spent a good amount of time with CSK batting coach Michael Hussey before he entered the nets and faced fast bowlers Matt Henry, Jamie Overton and left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh. After facing a few deliveries, Dhoni changed his bat and switched to attacking mode. A majority of his lofted shots went between long-on and mid-wicket. A couple of perfectly timed straight hits also went above the sightscreen. Prashant Veer was batting with Dhoni.
Meanwhile, MI's English all-rounder Will Jacks, who joined the team recently, attended their optional practice session, where he bowled and batted.

Ayush Mhatre out of IPL

Earlier in the day, CSK's explosive top-order batter Ayush Mhatre was ruled out of the ongoing IPL season with a hamstring injury. The right-hander sustained the injury during the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18.