MS Dhoni has reportedly not travelled with the Chennai Super Kings squad to Lucknow ahead of their upcoming IPL 2026 fixture against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Friday.
The 44-year-old wicketkeeper-batter had suffered a calf strain ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Although reports suggest that Dhoni has recovered from the injury, he remains unavailable for selection and is yet to make an appearance for Chennai this season.
In Dhoni’s absence, Sanju Samson, who joined Chennai Super Kings from Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026, has been handling wicketkeeping responsibilities for the five-time champions.
According to reports, Dhoni had initially booked his travel arrangements with the CSK squad but later chose not to accompany the team to Lucknow. If he misses the clash against Lucknow Super Giants, fans will have to wait longer to witness the legendary cricketer’s return to competitive action.
Despite remaining out of the playing XI, Dhoni has continued to play an active role within the Chennai Super Kings camp, mentoring younger players and sharing his experience with the squad.
One of the players to benefit from Dhoni’s guidance is CSK youngster Urvil Patel, who recently grabbed headlines by smashing the joint-fastest fifty in IPL history off just 13 balls during Chennai’s match against Lucknow Super Giants at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
The explosive right-handed batter scored 65 runs from only 23 deliveries and cleared the boundary eight times in a sensational knock. Urvil also became the first player in IPL history to hit six sixes within the opening eight balls of an innings, helping Chennai post a massive powerplay score during the chase.
Speaking in a video shared by the IPL after the match, Urvil revealed that a conversation with Dhoni helped him overcome self-doubt following a string of missed opportunities in earlier games.
According to the youngster, Dhoni reassured him that there was nothing wrong with his batting ability and that the only challenge was maintaining mental clarity. Dhoni reportedly advised him to remain confident, trust his instincts and focus on hitting the right ball into the correct areas.
Urvil credited the former India captain’s advice for helping him trust his natural attacking game and play with greater freedom during his record-equalling innings.
While fans continue to wait for Dhoni’s return to the field, his influence within the Chennai camp remains as strong as ever.
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