MS Dhoni has reportedly regained full fitness but is delaying his return to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) playing XI to avoid disrupting the team's current winning combination.

The 44-year-old is undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain that ruled him out of the first two weeks of IPL 2026. Though he traveled with the CSK squad to away games in Hyderabad and Mumbai and passed a fitness test, he did not feature, with the team maintaining that he is still on the road to recovery.

In Dhoni’s absence, Sanju Samson has been donning the keeping gloves. “He (Dhoni) is progressing well. He is on the road to recovery and doing everything that is being asked of him," head coach Stephen Fleming told reporters on the eve of the match against Gujarat Titans (GT).

However, according to a report in The Indian Express, Dhoni had regained full fitness but chose not to take a youngster’s spot in the last two games.

Following a difficult start to the season, CSK have demonstrated a strong comeback and head into their clash against GT on the back of a thumping 103-run victory over Mumbai Indians (MI).

Currently holding fifth spot in the points table with three wins from seven outings, the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side is firmly in the race for a playoff spot. Winning five of their remaining seven games could propel them into the top four, with healthy net run rate working in their favour.

The report also claims that Dhoni has advised the CSK team management to maintain their current winning combination as they enter a crucial stage of the IPL 2026 season.

Although Dhoni took part in a full training session and was seen keeping wickets and batting in the nets on the eve of the MI clash, he did not feature in the playing XI, with young Kartik Sharma coming into the middle order instead.