MS Dhoni Skips Delhi Trip as CSK Face DC Without Their Icon

Key facts

• MS Dhoni has not travelled to New Delhi for CSK's match against Delhi Capitals on May 6.
• Dhoni is undergoing rehabilitation for a calf injury in Chennai.
• CSK have five games remaining in the season after the Delhi fixture.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad has scored two half-centuries this season.
• CSK are sixth in the points table with four wins from nine games.
• CSK need at least four wins from their remaining matches to qualify for the playoffs.
• Delhi Capitals also have eight points, sitting seventh in the standings.

Dhoni’s Absence Looms Over Feroz Shah Kotla

Chennai Super Kings arrived at Feroz Shah Kotla on Monday afternoon under a searing Delhi sun, but the man thousands of fans had come to see was not among them. MS Dhoni, the former captain and enduring talisman of the franchise, stayed back in Chennai to continue rehabilitation for a calf injury that has kept him out of every game this season. His last IPL appearance was against Gujarat Titans on May 25, 2025 — nearly a year ago. A senior team official told Cricbuzz that Dhoni should be available at some stage, though no timeline has been set. The franchise has not ruled out his participation entirely, but for now, the Super Kings must navigate the business end of the season without their most iconic figure.

Gaikwad’s Resurgence Anchors Chennai’s Campaign

With Dhoni sidelined, the spotlight has fallen on Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has quietly assembled a season of substance. The captain has registered two half-centuries, but Chennai’s bowling coach Eric Simmons insists the context of those runs matters more than the raw numbers. “He’s had some tough innings in the sense that we’ve been in trouble, the wicket’s been tough, and he’s battled through them,” Simmons said. “I think that’s the hallmark of a really quality batsman — that he doesn’t just score runs on good wickets.” Simmons described Gaikwad as “a surgeon in this world of chaos batting,” capable of scoring 50 runs in 22 balls almost unnoticed. The coach emphasised that Gaikwad’s leadership was never in doubt within the setup, even as external noise linked his batting returns to captaincy pressure. “The leadership has always been there — it’s just good that he’s now scoring runs,” Simmons added.

CSK Find Their Identity as Playoff Race Intensifies

Chennai’s season has been a study in gradual coalescence. After nine matches, the Super Kings sit sixth with four wins, level on eight points with Delhi Capitals but behind on net run rate. The top four have opened a noticeable gap, yet Simmons believes the team has finally found its identity. “We have a sense of our identity now… the parts have fallen together,” he said. That confidence is backed by a pragmatic view of the table. “We still have our destiny in our own hands,” Simmons stated. “We do know that we can beat any team in the league. When we play well, we look really unbeatable.” With five matches remaining, Chennai need at least four wins to secure a playoff berth — a tall order but not an impossible one.

Delhi Capitals: A Mirror Opponent in the Standings

Delhi Capitals arrive at this fixture with identical mathematical prospects: eight points from nine games, seventh place, and a desperate need to climb. Both teams carry momentum from victories in their previous outings, setting the stage for a contest that could define the middle of the table. The Capitals, like Chennai, are searching for consistency in a season where surfaces have varied and batting has swung between extremes. For Chennai, the match also carries the weight of a packed remaining schedule. After Delhi, they host Lucknow Super Giants on May 10, travel to Lucknow for a return leg on May 15, host Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 18, and finish the league phase against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on May 21.

Rohit Sharma’s Return Hangs in the Balance for MI

While Dhoni’s absence dominates headlines in Chennai, another IPL legend faces a fitness crossroads in Mumbai. Rohit Sharma has been out of action since April 12 with a hamstring injury, missing five games — four of which Mumbai Indians lost. On Sunday evening, a travel day for the franchise, Rohit batted for nearly an hour at the Wankhede alongside head coach Mahela Jayawardene, completing fitness drills that suggested a possible return. The team management has left the decision entirely to Rohit, who may choose to play the home fixture against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday night given the importance of the result. The ball, as one official put it, is in his court.

The Stakes: Playoff Hopes and a Franchise’s Future

For Chennai, the next five matches will determine not just playoff qualification but the narrative of a transitional season. Without Dhoni, the team has had to redefine its on-field leadership and batting order, leaning on Gaikwad’s surgical approach and a bowling attack that Simmons believes is finding its rhythm. The franchise’s destiny remains in its own hands, but the margin for error is razor-thin. Delhi, equally positioned, represents both an obstacle and an opportunity. A win would lift the Super Kings above their direct rival and keep pressure on the top four. A loss, however, could leave them scrambling in a congested mid-table. As the fans at Kotla discovered on Monday afternoon, the absence of a legend does not mean the absence of drama.

The bottom line

• MS Dhoni has not played any IPL match this season due to a calf injury and missed the trip to Delhi for the May 6 fixture against DC.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad has scored two half-centuries and is being praised for his composure under pressure, with bowling coach Eric Simmons calling him 'a surgeon in this world of chaos batting.'
• CSK are sixth in the points table with four wins from nine games, needing at least four more wins from their remaining five matches to qualify for the playoffs.
• Delhi Capitals also have eight points and sit seventh, making this a crucial match for both teams' playoff aspirations.
• Rohit Sharma is nearing a return for Mumbai Indians after a hamstring injury, with the decision on his participation left to him.
• CSK’s remaining schedule includes matches against Lucknow Super Giants (twice), Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans.