Will MS Dhoni play today against Mumbai Indians? No, according to the latest update from the venue, MS Dhoni has not arrived at the Wankhede stadium and will not play today.
Previously, his availability was the question dominating Indian cricket ahead of the MI vs CSK IPL 2026 match at the Wankhede Stadium on April 23. The 44-year-old has not played a single game this season — missing all six CSK matches so far with a calf strain sustained during pre-season training — but the strongest signs yet of an MS Dhoni IPL 2026 return emerged on Monday when the former captain completed a full wicketkeeping session and batted for nearly an hour at the Wankhede. The latest MS Dhoni injury update points toward Thursday’s El Clasico being the day Thala returns.
UPDATE: Will MS Dhoni play tonight? Dhoni has not reached the ground for the MI vs CSK match with less than 30 minutes to go for the toss. Dhoni will likely not playing today.
ALSO READ: Full List Of Mumbai Indians Players Who Later Joined CSK
(updated on April 23, 2026 — after MI vs CSK toss)
MI vs CSK Playing XI
The MI vs CSK match is a must-win for both teams, and both squads face selection decisions that go beyond Dhoni.
CSK Playing XI
Sanju Samson(wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Sarfaraz Khan, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary
Chennai Super Kings Impact subs: Prashant Veer, Matthew Short, Matt Henry, Akeal Hosein, Urvil Patel
MI’s situation — Rohit Sharma also misses out
Mumbai Indians had their own selection headache. Rohit Sharma’s fitness remains uncertain after his hamstring injury, and he misses out again, Quinton de Kock or Danish Malewar opens alongside Ryan Rickelton. MI did find momentum in their last match — a win over Gujarat Titans powered by Tilak Varma’s maiden IPL century — but they sit on 4 points from 6 matches, level with CSK and equally desperate. Find out if Rohit Sharma will play against CSK today.
MI Playing XI
Quinton de Kock(wk), Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya(c), Tilak Varma, Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, Jasprit Bumrah, Krish Bhagat, AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar
Mumbai Indians Impact subs: Will Jacks, Raj Bawa, Shardul Thakur, Danish Malewar, Mayank Markande
MS Dhoni Injury Update — Why Has He Not Played IPL 2026 Yet?
The MS Dhoni calf injury has kept the five-time IPL champion sidelined since before the season opener on March 28. Dhoni sustained the strain during a pre-season training camp in Chennai and has been in rehabilitation ever since, sitting out all six CSK matches while Ruturaj Gaikwad has captained the side and Sanju Samson has taken over the wicketkeeping duties.
For the first three weeks of the tournament, Dhoni did not even travel with the squad. He remained at CSK’s base in Chennai, working on his recovery under the franchise’s medical staff. The first real sign of progress came last week when Dhoni travelled to Hyderabad with the team ahead of the SRH vs CSK match on April 18 — though he did not play that game either. CSK lost by 10 runs, a defeat made worse by the Ayush Mhatre hamstring tear that has since ruled the 18-year-old out for the remainder of IPL 2026.
Head coach Stephen Fleming has been cautious throughout, saying the management wants to make sure Dhoni stays fit for the business end of the season rather than rushing him back and risking a recurrence. But the tone has shifted noticeably in recent days, with Fleming describing Dhoni’s progress as “very promising.”
For the complete injury timeline and every official update from the CSK camp, read our detailed MS Dhoni injury update tracker.
Will MS Dhoni Play Today in MI vs CSK IPL 2026 Match?
Will MS Dhoni play today against Mumbai Indians? All signs point toward yes — or at the very least, toward Dhoni being available in the squad for the first time this season.
On April 21 — two days before the MI vs CSK match — Dhoni had his most intense training session of IPL 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium. He kept wickets for approximately 40 minutes, taking catches and moving laterally with no visible discomfort, before padding up for a batting session that lasted close to an hour. He faced CSK’s own bowlers first and then moved on to throwdowns from the coaching staff — completing the entire session without any apparent pain or restriction.
Batting coach Michael Hussey provided the most detailed update yet after that session: “He’s just progressing with his running, because obviously he’s going to bat at the back-end of the innings; he needs to get confidence in his running and build that speed up.” The language is telling — Hussey is talking about when Dhoni bats, not if. The focus has shifted from recovery to match readiness.
The most likely scenario is that Dhoni returns as an impact player today rather than in the starting XI. With Sanju Samson established as the primary wicketkeeper and in excellent form — including an unbeaten 115 against Delhi Capitals — CSK are unlikely to displace him. Instead, Dhoni could be brought in as a middle-order finisher during the second innings, allowing him to focus on what he does best — death-overs hitting — without the physical demands of keeping wicket for a full 20 overs.
The final call will come at toss time on Thursday evening.
When Will MS Dhoni Play IPL 2026? Latest Return Timeline
When will MS Dhoni play IPL 2026? Based on everything coming out of the CSK camp, the answer is almost certainly this week. The MI vs CSK match on April 23 represents the perfect re-entry point for several reasons.
First, the venue works in Dhoni’s favour. The Wankhede Stadium is Dhoni’s most iconic IPL ground away from Chepauk — this is where he has played some of his most memorable innings, and the fast outfield rewards the kind of clean ball-striking that defines his finishing game. Second, the match carries enough weight to justify his return. With CSK sitting on 4 points from 6 matches — 9th on the IPL 2026 points table — every remaining game is effectively a must-win if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. And third, the impact player rule gives CSK the flexibility to manage his workload without asking him to keep wicket for a full match.
If Dhoni does not play against MI, the next opportunity would be CSK’s home game at Chepauk later in the week. But the training intensity on Monday — keeping wickets and batting for a combined 100 minutes — suggests CSK are targeting Thursday. When will MS Dhoni play? The 25-day wait appears to be ending.
CSK’s Injury Crisis — Why Dhoni’s Return Matters More Than Ever
Will MS Dhoni play today against Mumbai Indians? For CSK, the answer needs to be yes — not just for sentiment, but for survival. The franchise is dealing with the worst injury crisis in their IPL history.
The casualty list is staggering. Ayush Mhatre is ruled out — CSK’s top run-scorer with 201 runs at a strike rate of 177.87. Khaleel Ahmed is ruled out — their best death bowler. Nathan Ellis — the designated death-over specialist signed at auction — was ruled out before the first match with a hamstring injury. Spencer Johnson, signed as Khaleel’s replacement, is yet to play a game. And Dhoni himself has missed six straight matches.
That is five first-choice players either ruled out or unavailable. CSK have won just 2 of their 6 matches, their NRR is negative, and the CSK playoff qualification now requires winning at least 5 of their remaining 8 games. In this context, Dhoni’s return is not a feel-good story — it is a cricketing necessity. His ability to finish innings, calm middle-order collapses, and operate in the death overs against pace gives CSK something no other player in their squad can replicate.
Will MS Dhoni Play Against Mumbai Indians? The Bottom Line
The short answer to will MS Dhoni play against Mumbai Indians: almost certainly yes, most likely as an impact player. The full wicketkeeping and batting session at the Wankhede on Monday, Hussey’s comments about building running speed, and Fleming’s “very promising” assessment all point toward Thursday being the day.
The longer answer is that CSK cannot afford to wait any longer. At 4 points from 6 matches, sitting 9th on the table, with three players ruled out for the season and a must-win El Clasico at the Wankhede against a Mumbai Indians side fighting for their own playoff survival, the time for caution is over. Dhoni at the Wankhede — the ground where he has built a legacy of clutch performances — feels like the right moment for the return.
This article will be updated with the confirmed MI vs CSK playing XI and MS Dhoni’s availability at toss time on April 23.
ALSO READ: Will Rohit Sharma play today against CSK?
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