Stephen Fleming, the head coach of the Chennai Super Kings, stated on Sunday that MS Dhoni’s comeback to the current IPL will be further postponed because the superstar sustained a new calf injury during a warm-up match.
This season, CSK has played eight games without its previous captain. Fleming stated that although Dhoni was initially anticipated to recover in a few weeks, the exacerbation of his calf injury has required a more cautious rehabilitation plan.
“Yeah, he’s pretty keen. The calf is a tough one though. If he takes off and rips the calf again, then he will be gone,” PTI quoted Fleming as saying in the post-match press meet.
“So we pushed it early and then in a warm-up game he tweaked it again, it’s my understanding. And since then he has been just working hard to get some movement into it. But there was a setback, so it has taken longer than we thought. But look, he’s the guide on this one.”
Dhoni is collaborating closely with the team physiotherapists, according to Fleming.
“And he’s working hard with the physio and doing all the rehab. And we’re just waiting for the word. But all I can keep saying, and it’s not making light of it, is he is progressing and doing everything he can.”
CSK will keep an eye on Dhoni’s recuperation during their five-day break before their next match against the Mumbai Indians today, but Fleming’s assessment indicates that his return appears unlikely.
Dhoni has been going to training sessions on a regular basis, but he has mostly focused on throwdowns. Recently, he was spotted practicing wicketkeeping, which stoked speculation about a potential comeback.
Michael Hussey, the batting coach for CSK, had previously stated that Dhoni would take up wicketkeeping once he was well.
In the meantime, Gujarat Titans outplayed CSK by 8 wickets in an afternoon match in Chennai on a lively pitch, resulting in CSK’s fifth defeat in eight games.
Kagiso Rabada (3/25) and Mohammed Siraj (1/23) took advantage of the early support available, limiting CSK to 158/7 when they were put to bat. GT responded by chasing the mark in 16.4 overs.
Fleming acknowledged that CSK found it difficult to accept the terms and was unable to take advantage of similar support in the future.
“Couldn’t get a grasp on the wicket, it was very difficult. They bowled straight, got a good bounce… It was just a tough 20 overs. I thought it was a good total, but we just couldn’t extract the same type of assistance that they got in the first 10 overs.”
“I don’t want to make an excuse, but the first 10 overs today were tough in terms of conditions. Then we’re always behind the game,” he added.
