MS Dhoni's long break from cricket ever since India’s ouster from World Cup 2019 has become a topic of discussion for the fans and pundits lately.

WATCH – Srinivasan confirms Dhoni’s participation in upcoming IPL edition and 2021 season

Following the quadrennial event in July last year, the veteran wicketkeeper took a sabbatical from international cricket to train with the Territorial Army – 106 TA Battalion (Para) in Jammu and Kashmir for two weeks, which saw him miss the tour of the Caribbean.

Dhoni then skipped white-ball series at home against South Africa, Bangladesh, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Australia and he was not part of the recently held T20I and ODI series in New Zealand as well.

While there is no clarity on Dhoni’s future with the Indian team, one thing is certain that he will return to action in the IPL 2020, where he will lead three-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

With the 13th edition of IPL starting on March 29, Dhoni is expected to arrive in Chennai on March 1 and starts training at Chepauk.

“He is expected to arrive on March 1. He will probably train for a couple of weeks before going back for 4-5 days and then coming back once again closer to the start of the IPL,” sources close to the development told TOI.

In will be Dhoni’s earliest arrival in Chennai before the start of an IPL season. In years gone by, the 38-year-old used to be busy with the Indian cricket team and thus join the CSK boys just prior to the beginning of the tournament.

Dhoni will be accompanied in training by other CSK stars such as Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu in the first week of March.

“Raina and Rayudu had been training here for the last three weeks. They are going back and then joining again on March 2. Players who are available at that time will also join. The official camp starts from March 10,” sources said.

(With TOI inputs)