Right before the game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2026 IPL, Gaikwad gave a careful update on how Dhoni is doing. Dhoni is healing from his calf injury with rehab, and Gaikwad said he is ‘getting better slowly’ and will play as soon as he can.
Gaikwad’s comments at the M. Chinnaswamy
At the Chinnaswamy stadium when flipping the coin for the start of the game, Gaikwad also said what he thinks about the field and the team’s strategy. He said they will bowl first because the field will likely allow for a lot of runs to be scored. He admitted they were disappointed to lose the first game, but said the batting was better in the second. And about Dhoni, Gaikwad said, “It takes time sometimes. If he’s ready to play, it will be soon.”
Gaikwad says Dhoni will be back with the team eventually, and we all need to be patient. He says the team still believes in themselves and isn’t changing the players they’re using, even though Dhoni, their most important player, isn’t there. He’s staying calm in public to reassure the fans and people involved with the team while the doctors decide when Dhoni should come back.
Details of the injury and rehabilitation approach
CSK has said Dhoni is doing rehab for the calf injury that has kept him out of the first two weeks of the tournament. His rehab has included running at increasing speeds, strengthening the calf, and doing supervised practices on the field, all to make sure he doesn’t get hurt again.
Stephen Fleming, CSK’s head coach, has emphasized that Dhoni is still very involved with the team. Even though he’s getting his body healthy, he’s still giving a lot of advice about how to play and is a leader in the locker room.
How Dhoni’s absence is affecting team strategy
Dhoni does more than just score runs; he’s good at finishing games and is a decisive leader in the field, and these things affect CSK’s plans. Without him, the team has tried Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma as players to finish the innings, and they’ve changed the order of the first few batters to see what works best.
These changes haven’t been totally successful. Sanju Samson, now in a different position, hasn’t been playing well, and CSK has had a lack of a good plan in tight situations. The coaches will need to be both patient and act quickly until Dhoni is in good enough shape to play.
Possible return windows and key fixtures
If all goes as expected with his recovery, Dhoni might be able to play against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 14th in Chennai. The team has also said April 18th against Sunrisers Hyderabad and the big game against Mumbai Indians on April 23rd as possible dates for his return.
The medical staff will make sure Dhoni is truly healthy in the long term, and won’t let him come back too soon. He’ll have to pass tests on the field and the team will have to agree before he plays. CSK will watch how many minutes he spends practicing and his fitness levels before they decide if he can play.
Outlook for CSK and expectations from supporters
CSK can’t lose three games in a row at the start of the season, and the team needs to be consistent while Dhoni is recovering. Other players will have to start finishing games, and the team’s other leaders will have to fill in for Dhoni’s tactical decisions until he’s back.
Fans are eager to see Dhoni play again, but the team is determined to be careful and make their decision based on evidence. If Dhoni comes back fully recovered, he could bring back balance and calm when the pressure is on, and will make CSK more competitive in the 2026 IPL.
