At a glance
- Dhoni misses Delhi trip with calf issue
- CSK fighting to stay in playoff race
- Kamboj shines as bowling spearhead
Chennai Super Kings will head into their crucial away fixture against Delhi Capitals without one of their most iconic figures, as Mahendra Singh Dhoni continues his recovery from injury.
The development was confirmed on Monday by CSK bowling coach Eric Simons, who stated that the veteran wicketkeeper batter has not travelled with the squad to New Delhi. Dhoni is nursing a calf injury and, while progress has been steady, there is no fixed timeline for his return.
The absence adds another layer of intrigue to a season that has already been filled with questions around Dhoni’s availability and long-term future in the Indian Premier League.
Dhoni Out Again: CSK Icon Sidelined as Recovery Continues
Speaking during a pre-match media interaction, Simons kept his update brief and measured, making it clear that the final call rests with the player himself.
“Update on MS Dhoni is way above my pay grade,” Simons said to the media in New Delhi.
“He’s not with us, but steadily improving. He’ll be ready when he’s ready, and he knows when he’s ready to play.”
Dhoni, who has yet to feature this season, has been working in the nets in recent days. Those glimpses hinted of a possible return in the near future. However, with more than half the campaign already complete, speculation continues to swirl around the 44-year-old and his role moving forward.
Kamboj Earns Praise for Consistent Impact
While Dhoni’s absence dominates headlines, there has been a bright spark for CSK in the form of Anshul Kamboj. The young bowler has emerged as one of the standout performers, combining wicket-taking ability with tight control across phases.
Simons highlighted the work Kamboj has put in behind the scenes, pointing to technical adjustments and a disciplined approach as key to his success:
“Anshul went away. Anshul you see today is not this season, he started last year. The things that we worked on, he went into the domestic season and worked on different angles of approach to the crease to be more accurate with his yorkers in particular. We’ve introduced round-the-wicket, which is no secret now.
There’s a lot of nuances to what we’re doing around the wicket that make him particularly effective. He’s picked up wickets and been able to restrict the run-rate as well. But I think what it really boils down to is his professionalism, the way that he trains.
If you stood next to me and watched the way that he trains, the way that he understands what he’s going to do, the simplicity I spoke about, the clarity, I think in the modern game a bowler needs to be clear about what he wants to do. He’s very clear about his tactics, and he’s very clear about what his field setting is. There’s no grey area for him.”
Playoff Race Tightens as CSK Look to Surge
For Chennai Super Kings, the road ahead is straightforward but demanding. With four wins from nine matches, the team finds itself needing strong results in the remaining fixtures to stay in contention for the playoffs.
They arrive in the capital on the back of an emphatic win over Mumbai Indians on May 2. That result that has injected renewed belief into the squad.
Simons remains confident that the side has the quality to challenge any opponent and climb back into the top bracket.
“There has become a bit of a gap between the top four and the rest, but we still have our destiny in our own hands,” Simons said to the press.
“We do know that we can beat any team in the league. So if we keep playing to our potential, there’s no reason why we can’t be on the top of the table. When we play well, we look really unbeatable.”
As CSK prepare to face Delhi Capitals, the spotlight will remain on both their immediate challenge and the looming question of when their talisman might return.
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