Dhoni plays with 'Champak', return buzz grows ahead of CSK vs MI clash

NEW DELHI: MS Dhoni is yet to diagnostic successful an IPL 2026 lucifer truthful far. Fans are eagerly waiting for their superstar to instrumentality to the field. He has been nursing a calf strain that helium picked up conscionable earlier the tourney began precocious past month, and anticipation among fans is precocious up of Chennai Super Kings’ clash against Mumbai Indians astatine the Wankhede Stadium successful Mumbai connected Thursday.A time earlier the game, Dhoni lit up the stadium arsenic camerapersons, groundstaff and unit members were treated to his lighter side. He was seen playing with the robot canine “Champak” during a signifier league astatine Wankhede Stadium.Dhoni, who has led CSK to 5 IPL titles, had an aggravated grooming league connected Tuesday wherever helium kept wickets and aboriginal had a batting stint successful the nets.On Wednesday, helium had a little league initially earlier taking a break, returning aboriginal for astir an hr to look throwdown specialists and accelerated bowlers.After the session, Dhoni - known to beryllium a canine person - was spotted playing with the AI-powered IPL robotic dog, spending a fewer moments interacting with it.He tried to get the robot to mimic his gestures, though determination were instances erstwhile it couldn’t respond.

So far, CSK person won conscionable 2 of their six IPL 2026 matches, including a 10-run decision to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and are presently placed eighth connected the points table.

Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin believes Dhoni is apt to diagnostic successful the clash against Mumbai Indians.Speaking connected his YouTube channel, Ashwin said Dhoni’s beingness successful grooming indicates helium could instrumentality up wicketkeeping duties, perchance replacing Sanju Samson, oregon beryllium utilized arsenic an Impact Player.Ashwin expressed assurance that Dhoni is acceptable and ready, adding that his acquisition and finishing quality could beryllium captious for CSK, particularly aft their struggles to adjacent retired games.He emphasised that Dhoni’s power-hitting successful the decease overs makes him a cardinal plus successful choky situations.Dhoni had his archetypal wicketkeeping league of IPL 2026 astatine the Wankhede Stadium connected Tuesday. The 44-year-old has been sidelined for CSK’s archetypal six matches portion recovering from a calf strain."I've ne'er seen MS Dhoni keeping the wickets successful the nets. This means helium volition beryllium keeping successful spot of (Sanju) Samson. Or helium mightiness beryllium utilized arsenic an Impact player. I americium 100 per cent definite helium volition play (against Mumbai Indians). I've heard he's acceptable and bully to go," Ashwin said connected his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat."See against SRH, CSK were recovered lacking successful finishing the game. So if you request 15 disconnected 5 deliveries, Dhoni tin bash the job. He tin deed the sixes towards the end," Ashwin added.