Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has dismissed the possibility of MS Dhoni returning for Chennai Super Kings' crucial IPL 2026 match against Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday. Dhoni has been sidelined this season due to a calf injury, and fans had hoped he would make his comeback for one of the tournament's biggest rivalries.
Ashwin's Assessment on Dhoni and Rohit
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, "I don't know about Rohit Sharma, but Dhoni won't play 100 percent, I don't think so. He can surprise as well because he's that kind of guy, but I don't think Dhoni will play." He also expressed doubts about Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. "I think Rohit will also not play, but it is a good chance for Suryakumar Yadav to come back in form because he'll not get a better wicket for batting," Ashwin added. He believes the Chepauk pitch could be excellent for batting, giving struggling batters like Suryakumar a strong chance to regain confidence.
CSK Batting Order Recommendation
Ashwin also shared his views on Chennai Super Kings' batting lineup. He suggested that CSK should give Sarfaraz Khan a fixed role at No. 3 after Ayush Mhatre was ruled out due to injury. "I am saying just one thing, Chennai should lock Sarfaraz Khan to No. 3. Don't keep him in impact because he has been your best batter this season apart from Sanju Samson. So, fix him at No. 3," Ashwin said. He emphasized that Sarfaraz has been one of Chennai's top performers this season and deserves stability in the lineup.
Earlier, CSK batting coach Michael Hussey had indicated that Dhoni was "pretty close" to returning, which had raised excitement among supporters. However, Ashwin's comments suggest that fans should temper their expectations for this match.
