IPL: Can CSK learn to live without Dhoni? Legend set to miss up to six games
MS Dhoni's 'final' IPL season faces an early setback with a calf strain, potentially sidelining him for three weeks and at least six matches. This injury forces CSK to rely on a new leadership group and opens opportunities for younger players in the lower order, while Sanju Samson will handle wicket-keeping duties.
CHENNAI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni is in the final lap of his career. For all practical purposes, this is going to be his last IPL. And now, it seems that his 44-year-old body is disobeying his will to carry on even for that final burst.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Dhoni, who has been training hard for over a month, has suffered a calf strain in practice that could keep him out for around three weeks.
While the official CSK release mentions a two-week layoff, team sources indicate it is unlikely he will return before the last week of April. That could mean the legend misses at least six matches, with a possible return against Mumbai Indians on April 23 also uncertain. Staying back “It is definitely a big blow for us and we’ll have to deal with it,” a senior CSK official said.
Dhoni hasn’t travelled to Guwahati for the team’s first match against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday and is doing his rehabilitation in Chennai. “He is taking rest and we want him back as soon as possible,” the source said. While Dhoni’s absence reduces the buzz around CSK, it could also prove to be a blessing in disguise.