IPL 2018: MS Dhoni skips CSK training session at new home

CSK will play their remaining home games in Pune.

Dhoni scored a blazing 44-ball 79* against KXIP amidst back pain | IANS

Chennai Super Kings are all set to play their remaining home games in Pune, with the first one to be played against the Rajasthan Royals on Friday (April 20).

Despite the shift in venue and the heart-breaking loss in their last match against KXIP, the mood was quite jolly in the CSK camp during their practice session on Wednesday (April 18). However, the noticeable thing in CSK’s training session was the absence of their ace skipper MS Dhoni, who scored a scintillating 44-ball 79* against Kings XI Punjab that almost ensured an improbable victory for his side.

 Even though CSK fell short by just 4 runs while chasing KXIP’s mammoth target of 198, cricket fans were thrilled by Dhoni’s jaw-dropping strokes despite back pain. During his unbeaten knock, Dhoni’s back was troubling him a lot and he also took some help from the physio.

As per the reports in Sportstar, nobody from the CSK camp talked about Dhoni’s fitness but there is a possibility that the Jharkhand man might play only as a batsman. This could open up the door for N. Jagadeesan or Ambati Rayudu could play the role of a makeshift wicketkeeper.

On the other hand, CSK got a positive news concerning their swashbuckling batsman Suresh Raina’s fitness. Reports in Sportstar suggest that the southpaw had a stint at the nets without any discomfort. During the game against the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 10, Raina had sustained a calf injury that initially ruled him out of IPL 2018 for 10 days. He had missed the thrilling match against KXIP on Sunday (April 15).

In the ongoing Indian Premier League, CSK have won two out of their three matches thus far. While the Chennai-based franchise secured a nerve-wrecking 1-wicket victory in the 2018 IPL opener against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede, they clinched another win from the jaws of defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 19 Apr, 2018

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