New Delhi: MS Dhoni’s absence from the Chennai Super Kings dugout in IPL 2026 has sparked widespread curiosity, but batting coach Michael Hussey has now revealed the unselfish reason behind the veteran’s decision to stay away.Speaking ahead of CSK’s marquee clash against Mumbai Indians in Chepauk, Hussey explained that Dhoni deliberately chose not to attend matches to avoid being a distraction for the team.
“He’s a team-oriented guy, MS Dhoni. He always wants what’s best for the team, and he was worried that there would be a bit more distraction if he came in,” Hussey said.“Obviously, the cameras will be on him a lot. The crowd will be cheering for him and things like that. And he really wanted the team to be able to just go about their work, do our work.Despite being a part of the squad since the pre-season, Dhoni – who is recovering from a back injury – has not featured in a single match so far. Hussey asserted that his absence on match days was a deliberate attempt to keep the spotlight firmly on the playing group.“Whether it’s right or wrong, it’s not my decision to sort out, but that’s the thinking behind Dhoni not coming to matches,” he added.Focus on recovery, not focusAlthough Dhoni has been away from the dugout, he has been actively involved behind the scenes, regularly attending training sessions and interacting with the players.Hussey also provided a positive update on Dhoni’s recovery, suggesting a return could be imminent – although no firm timeline has been set.“Hopefully, he’ll be back as soon as possible. I don’t know if it’s tomorrow or maybe the next match after that, but he’s progressing really well,” he said.“I know he’s been increasing his run rate, and that was probably the most important point. I think we’re very confident from a skill point of view with his batting and his wicketkeeping.”“It was just making sure he could keep the power of a good run … so as soon as he gets confidence in his calf, I’m sure he’ll tick it to be ready to go,” he explained.
