New Delhi: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting coach Michael Hussey revealed MS Dhoni doesn’t travel with the team to venues as he wants to avoid becoming a distraction for the team. Dhoni is nursing a calf injury in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 and has missed all of CSK’s eight matches so far this season.
Dhoni suffered a calf strain ahead of the start of the season and is yet to recover fully from his injury. While remaining on the sidelines, Dhoni has also avoided going to the stadium on match days. While he has been attending training sessions and spending time with the rest of the squad in the nets, he has been absent from venues when his CSK plays.
Hussey recently explained why Dhoni has decided against remaining at the stadium when CSK are playing. The CSK batting coach said the former captain is team-oriented and understands that his presence would attract the cameras and crowd attention, making it a distraction for the rest of the team. Dhoni wants the focus to be on the team and not him.
“He’s such a team-orientated guy. He always wants what’s best for the team and he was worried that if he came there’d be a bit too much of a distraction. Obviously, the cameras would be on him a lot. The crowd would be cheering for him and things like that. And he really wanted the team to just be able to go about their job, do our thing,” Hussey said ahead of CSK’s clash against MI in Chennai on Saturday.
“Whether that’s right or wrong, that’s not my decision to sort of make. But that’s the thinking behind with Dhoni not wanting to come to the matches,” added the CSK batting coach.
Dhoni’s potential return for CSK has been one of the major talking points of their campaign so far in the IPL 2026. Despite reports suggesting last week that he was fit to return, Dhoni has remained on the sidelines, with CSK head coach Stephen Fleming confirming earlier this week that the 44-year-old has suffered a fresh injury setback.
MS Dhoni is following CSK closely: Hussey
Dhoni’s decision to remain away from the venues on match days doesn’t mean he is not following his team’s performances. CSK batting coach Hussey revealed Dhoni has been keeping a close watch on the team’s performances this season, and his presence is a morale-booster for the players in training.
Hussey revealed how Dhoni’s magnetic presence and his wisdom help enhance the players’ confidence and keep the mood light. The former captain is often spotted sharing his feedback with youngsters in the side and also helps players during batting and wicket-keeping drills.
“Obviously, he’s been watching very closely back home. I personally love having him around the dressing room. He offers so much wisdom. He offers so much confidence to the rest of the guys. So he’s obviously at training all the time and always a bubbly personality around training and offers a lot of his experience to the players there. But it was just a case he didn’t want to see himself as a distraction to the rest of the team and that’s why he decided on game day just to sort of stay away,” Hussey added.
Dhoni is unlikely to return when Chennai Super Kings take on arch-rivals Mumbai Indians in the return fixture between the two sides at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. CSK will be looking to return to winning ways after suffering an 8-wicket defeat against the Gujarat Titans in their last game at home.
CSK are currently languishing at the sixth spot on the IPL 2026 points table with six points in six matches, with their playoffs chances hanging by a thread. CSK need to win at least five of their remaining six matches in the competition to guarantee a spot in the playoffs.