As the IPL 2026 season progresses towards its crucial stages, significant updates have emerged regarding two of the league's biggest icons, MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have already participated in 11 matches this season, yet the most persistent question among fans remains: when will MS Dhoni take the field? Currently, the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman is sidelined due to a persistent calf injury, which has kept him away from the playing XI for the entirety of the season so far. However, the latest developments suggest a potential shift in the situation ahead of CSK's upcoming clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), while simultaneously, a definitive update has surfaced regarding Hardik Pandya, whose absence from the Mumbai Indians (MI) squad traveling to Dharamshala has raised concerns about his fitness.
MS Dhoni's Potential Travel to Lucknow and Injury Status
Reports from the Chennai Super Kings camp indicate that MS Dhoni might travel with the squad to Lucknow for their next assignment. Dhoni has been nursing a calf injury, which has prevented him from featuring in any of the 11 matches played by CSK so far in this edition of the IPL. His travel schedule for away games has been notably selective this season; he has only accompanied the team on two occasions previously—once to Hyderabad and once to Mumbai. The news of his potential travel to Lucknow has sparked intense speculation regarding his participation in the match scheduled for May 15 against the host team, Lucknow Super Giants, at the Ekana Stadium.
Official Confirmation from CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan
According to a report by Cricbuzz, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan provided clarity on the logistics involving the former captain. Viswanathan stated that a total of 60 tickets have been booked on an Indigo commercial flight for the contingent traveling to Lucknow. Crucially, one of these tickets is booked for MS Dhoni. The CEO expressed optimism that Dhoni would indeed be part of the traveling group to Lucknow, where CSK is set to face LSG on May 15. While his presence in the traveling party is a positive sign for the fans and the team's morale, it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to be included in the playing XI for the first time this season.
Hardik Pandya's Back Spasm and Absence from Dharamshala
In another major development, it has been confirmed that Hardik Pandya didn't travel with the Mumbai Indians squad to Dharamshala. Pandya is currently dealing with a back spasm, an injury that has already forced him to sit out the team's last two matches. Mumbai Indians are scheduled to face Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on May 14. His absence from the initial traveling group strongly suggests that he might miss this encounter as well. Interestingly, despite his absence from the flight, photographs of Pandya engaging in batting practice for the first time since his injury have surfaced, offering a glimmer of hope regarding his recovery process.
Mumbai Indians' Playoff Exit and Pandya's Uncertain Return
The uncertainty surrounding Hardik Pandya's return continues to loom over the Mumbai Indians camp. While there is no official confirmation that he will definitely miss the match—as he could potentially join the team later in Dharamshala—his recent history suggests caution. During the previous match, Pandya didn't travel to Raipur with the squad but joined them at a later stage, yet he didn't participate in the actual game. This season has been particularly challenging for Mumbai Indians. Out of the 11 matches played in IPL 2026, the franchise has managed to secure only 3 victories. This poor run of form has left them at the 9th position in the points table, effectively ending their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs. The focus now remains on whether Dhoni will make his season debut in Lucknow and if Pandya can recover in time for the final stages of the tournament.