A flicker of hope around MS Dhoni’s return to the Chennai Super Kings setup on Wednesday quickly turned into fresh disappointment, after reports confirmed the veteran did not travel with the squad to Lucknow for their crucial clash against Lucknow Super Giants.Dhoni, who has missed the entire IPL 2026 so far due to a calf issue, had reportedly been booked to travel with the team. That detail had sparked widespread speculation that the former captain was finally nearing a return. By evening, however, that narrative changed.
According to Cricbuzz reports, Dhoni eventually chose not to make the trip despite travel arrangements being in place, leaving supporters waiting once again for his first appearance of the season.Morning hope, evening reversalThe early update from the CSK camp suggested Dhoni’s travel ticket had been booked for Lucknow, instantly fuelling expectations among fans. While travelling with the team would not have guaranteed a place in the playing XI, it would have been the strongest sign yet that the 44-year-old was moving closer to rejoining match-day action.That alone carried huge significance given Dhoni’s absence since the start of the IPL 2026 campaign.But the evening brought a sharp twist. Reports said the ticket had indeed been arranged, but Dhoni opted out at the last moment, shutting down hopes of even a symbolic return to the squad environment.Injury continues to delay returnDhoni has been recovering from a calf strain, one of several injury setbacks that have affected CSK this season.The franchise has already lost Ramakrishna Ghosh, Khaleel Ahmed and Ayush Mhatre to injuries, while Nathan Ellis missed the start of the season.CSK on Wednesday also announced the signing of Macneil Noronha as a replacement for Ghosh, but Dhoni’s status remained the dominant talking point.The five-time champions have steadied their season and remain in playoff contention, but Dhoni’s absence continues to overshadow every team update.For now, though, the wait goes on. CSK will take on LSG without their iconic former captain, and there remains no clear timeline for when Dhoni might finally step onto the field in IPL 2026.
