Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend MS Dhoni is expected to travel to Lucknow along with the rest of the squad for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday, May 15, at the Ekana Stadium. The fixture is extremely important for CSK as they are still in contention for a place in the playoffs, whereas LSG have already been eliminated from the tournament.
Dhoni has not played a single game in the ongoing IPL season because of a persistent calf injury. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter missed the opening phase of the campaign entirely and only began accompanying the squad during selected away fixtures later in the season. He travelled with the team for matches against Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad, which sparked speculation regarding a possible comeback.
However, several reports later claimed that the injury had worsened while Dhoni was attempting to regain match fitness. It was also suggested that the former India captain did not want to disturb the current team combination, especially after CSK started producing positive results with the existing setup. Consequently, Dhoni did not join the squad for their recent encounter against Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where Chennai registered an emphatic eight-wicket victory.
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According to a report by RevSportz, Dhoni is now expected to be part of the travelling contingent heading to Lucknow. CSK still have an outside chance of entering the top four if they manage to secure a crucial victory over LSG and maintain momentum in the final stages of the league campaign.
Despite remaining unavailable for selection, Dhoni has continued to stay involved with the team during practice sessions and preparations. Ahead of CSK’s previous home clash against LSG, the 43-year-old was seen interacting closely with players and members of the coaching staff. He also spent time signing autographs for fans and even bowled a few deliveries during the net sessions.
CSK are scheduled to play one more home game this season against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday, May 18, and fans will be hoping Dhoni can make a return before the campaign concludes.
