Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has addressed all the concerns regarding CSK icon MS Dhoni’s continued absence from IPL 2026.
Although CSK have completed 13 matches in the league stage, Dhoni has not played a single one. In fact, he wasn’t even seen on the field for CSK’s matches until Monday, when the team lost Sunrisers Hyderabad At his home ground in Chennai.
SRH qualifies for playoffs after win over CSK
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and decided to bat first. Unfortunately, the decision backfired. Sanju Samson played an aggressive cameo, but Gaikwad could not get going at all.
Despite batting till the 12th over of the innings, Gaikwad scored only 15 runs in 21 balls without hitting a single four. Ultimately because of this CSK had to lose the match. Karthik Sharma He also played a cameo before being dismissed by SRH captain Pat Cummins.
Devals Brevis tried to save CSK’s innings with his 44, but SRH’s pace battery pulled it back in the second half. Ishan Malinga was economical while Cummins and Saqib Hussain shared five wickets between them.
SRH were chasing 181, but both Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma failed to make an impact. Head lasted for 6 balls, while Sharma scored 26 runs in 20 balls.
Ishan Kishan And Heinrich Klaasen brought SRH back into the game with an inning of 75 runs. Klaasen was particularly severe on the CSK spinners before falling victim to a wonderful stumping by Sanju Samson.
Kishan then took charge and led SRH to victory with his player-of-the-match innings of 70 runs.
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“It’s not my decision” – Fleming on MS Dhoni
CSK head coach after the match Stephen Fleming Talked about Dhoni and his possible comeback in the press conference.
MS Dhoni has not played any match for CSK this year. In the early part of the season, he was recovering from a calf injury, but has now reportedly also suffered a thumb injury.
Fleming said that, despite not being on the field, MS Dhoni has had a huge influence on everyone csk team This year.
Fleming said, “It’s a choice for the management. I know there’s been a lot of talk about it. MS has been quite active this year, which is really important for the team, for a lot of the young players and for continuity. So, he’s been a big part of it. He hasn’t played, but he’s still had a big impact on the team.”
CSK’s next match and qualification scenario
Chennai Super Kings now have one match left in the group stage of IPL 2026. They will play Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on May 21.
It remains to be seen whether ms dhoni Especially they will enter the field by putting their abilities at stake.
The only way now for CSK to qualify for the playoffs is to win their last match and hope other results go their way. If it comes to NRR battle, CSK no longer has the edge.
Also Read: IPL 2026 Qualification Scenario: PBKS, RR, CSK, DC, KKR in fierce battle for final playoff spot