Former CSK batsman Subramaniam Badrinath claimed that the team management is not sure about the timing of MS Dhoni’s possible comeback in IPL 2026. The experienced star has missed a quarter of the group-stage games in IPL 2026.
Chennai Super Kings, captained by MS Dhoni, has been successful in winning 1 match in the season after playing four matches. They defeated Delhi Capitals after a hat-trick of defeats to teams like Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings.
They have now moved up from the bottom position in the points table and will be aiming to build a new winning streak from here under their new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has started to find some rhythm as the captain of the team.
The former CSK batsman revealed the big truth behind Dhoni’s comeback and said, “The team management itself is not confident about his comeback.”
Former CSK batsman Subramaniam Badrinath said that the team management is not completely sure about his return date, and also said that he is absent from the dugout during CSK games so that he does not go unnoticed.
44-year-old MS Dhoni has been absent from the team’s initial matches in the first quarter, and his return has not been confirmed yet in any of the remaining 10 matches for the Super Kings.
Badrinath said on his YouTube channel, “It is a million-dollar question whether MS Dhoni will make a comeback against KKR or not. He has started batting and the team management itself is not sure about his comeback, as Sridharan Sriram told me. His possible comeback is being assessed day by day. Dhoni is probably not coming on the field to ensure that attention does not go on him.”
Subramaniam Badrinath drops in-form star to make room for MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni will likely return to the XI later this season; However, he will have to make it into the playing eleven by replacing one of the players who were part of the team during the last four matches.
Badrinath believes that Sarfaraz Khan, who is in good touch and showing some excellent shotplay, was one of the CSK frontline batsmen who struggled to score runs for the yellow team.
“It’s a big question mark as to who he keeps in the team. But there is no option other than that he will have to come in place of Sarfaraz Khan. When Dhoni returns, he will be the keeper and Sanju Samson will be the fielder.”
He added, “And lower down the order, one Indian batsman will have to go out, which will be Sarfaraz. But when the combination started to settle, there was confusion over who would replace Dhoni.”
Badrinath took credit for Ruturaj Gaikwad’s good captaincy, saying, “It is to his credit that he followed him.”
Subramaniam Badrinath did not hold back from criticizing Ruturaj Gaikwad’s minimal role with the bat for Chennai Super Kings. He also highlighted his slow innings as he conceded 15 runs in 18 balls despite a successful batting performance by CSK.
Badrinath said, “Other teams are batting at a different pace than CSK in the powerplay. But I still think they will not change the starting combination, because they, as it is, do not make much changes, and certainly not after the win. What worked for Ruturaj is that the other two in the top three batted brilliantly.”
“His captaincy was excellent, and he made some good changes. I think people like Sridharan Sriram, Michael Hussey and Stephen Fleming sat down and talked to him. Maybe they gave him the exact plans as to who to bowl when. They probably gave him the exact blueprint of the specific bowler for each phase. “To his credit, he followed them,” Badrinath said, while he backed Gaikwad in captaining well against DC. Praised the CSK coaching unit for doing so.
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