MS Dhoni is still absent from action as Chennai Super Kings are playing Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL 2026 encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. This mouthwatering encounter has garnered a lot of attention, but the omission of Dhoni has certainly remained the main talking point for both the fans and the team alike.

The CSK camp is under pressure as they lost their first two matches against Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings respectively. While the RCB camp seems to be going from strength to strength and is looking confident playing at their home turf. Thus, the absence of Dhoni is extremely crucial for the CSK to get back on track.

At the toss itself, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad shed some light on the fitness of the talisman this certainly tells us that the team is being cautious and will look to bring him back once he is fully fit:

"MS (Dhoni) is getting back slowly, sometimes it takes time, if he's ready to play, it'll be soon."

Earlier on, CSK had confirmed that the talismanic wicketkeeper batsman is suffering from a calf strain and has undergone rehab. The franchise had then stated:

"MS Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain. As a result, he is likely to miss the first two weeks of IPL 2026. Get well soon, Thala."

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If everything goes well as planned, Dhoni may make a return when CSK lock horns against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 14 in Chennai. Should it not, the clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18 could mark his return and another huge match for his return could be against Mumbai Indians on April 23.

The CSK outfit would be hoping for him to be back in action soon, as his experience and composed mindset in pressure situations could be immensely valuable to them. The star keeper is still involved in the team's functioning despite being in the bench.

Coach Stephen Fleming had earlier made it clear: 

 "It is just a game without him. He is still heavily involved in the side and his influence remains very strong."

For now, the CSK camp has to continue doing what they do without the presence of their most trusted player, but they would be eagerly waiting for him to come back into the side and bolster it for future matches.