Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player Subramaniam Badrinath has his reservations about the potential return of MS Dhoni to the team in the near future during the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). 

CSK have finally found some groove in the tournament, having won back-to-back games against the Delhi Capitals and the Kolkata Knight Riders. With the five-time champions settling down on their playing XI, it would be difficult for them to shoehorn Dhoni back once he is fit to play. This concerns Badrinath, who does not expect the former India captain to feature against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday.

"He is the elephant in the room. There is still no update on his return. But I feel he won't play against SRH. Who he replaces remains a big question mark, especially when they've just got their combination sorted,” Badrinath said on his YouTube channel.

Badrinath has claimed that Dhoninot being available for another match or two is actually a blessing in disguise for CSK. However, his return is beneficial for the Super Kings, both on and off the field.

"It may be okay if he's not back just yet. Though his fans want him back, I am not sure how the CSK management looks at this situation. If he comes back, Sanju Samson also has to field. But Dhoni's return will definitely be a boost, especially on intangibles," he added.

Dhoni has not featured for CSK all season long as he continues to recover from a calf injury. The 44-year-old did travel to Hyderabad with the rest of the squad ahead of their game against SRH. He also had a net session before the match, but there remain question marks over his availability on Saturday.

Dhoni has not played any professional cricket since the completion of last season’s IPL. He played 14 times in 2025 and scored 196 runs at an average of 24.50 and a strike-rate of 135.17. He also captained CSK for a majority of the season in the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad.