{"id":160700,"date":"2026-04-28T17:57:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T23:27:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=160700"},"modified":"2026-04-28T17:57:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T23:27:24","slug":"ipl-2026-dhoni-on-the-road-to-recovery-no-urgency-to-have-replacement-for-mhatre-at-no-3-says-csk-coach-fleming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=160700","title":{"rendered":"IPL 2026: Dhoni \u2018on the road to recovery\u2019, no urgency to have replacement for Mhatre at No. 3, says CSK coach Fleming"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

It seems home fans would have to wait longer for the much-anticipated return of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) talisman Mahendra Singh Dhoni.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s progressing well. He\u2019s on the road to recovery and doing everything that\u2019s being asked of him,\u201d head coach Stephen Fleming informed the media on Saturday ahead of the game against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. The wicketkeeper-batter is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain.<\/p>\n

Ayush Mhatre, who had been chipping in with valuable runs at No. 3, also picked up a hamstring injury during the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18 and has since been ruled out of the tournament.<\/p>\n

While Urvil Patel could be considered a potential candidate to take up the India Under-19 captain\u2019s role in the eleven, Fleming feels CSK is doing just fine. \u201cUrvil Patel, who\u2019s still itching to get a game,\u00a0is quality as well.\u00a0I know there\u2019s been some commentary around him. But we\u2019re lucky to have some quality\u00a0aggressive players at the top,\u00a0so the urgency to get a replacement is not necessarily there. We are looking,\u00a0but we just don\u2019t need to rush that at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarfaraz Khan had been promoted to No. 3 in CSK\u2019s last fixture against Mumbai Indians.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ | IPL 2026: Remodelled action, greater control \u2014 How Ravi Bishnoi has found a fresh start in IPL at Rajasthan Royals<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

CSK, fifth, is not where it would ideally want to be at this stage of the competition. With three wins, four losses, and six points from seven games, it is anybody\u2019s guess that skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad\u2019s form\u2014currently averaging 14.86 with the bat\u2014and captaincy skills have become a major talking point.<\/p>\n

Fleming, however, isn\u2019t the least bit concerned. \u201c(For) Rutu, I have nothing but support. He\u2019s a quality player and a young captain who\u2019s working himself into the role and doing a good job. I know he\u2019s getting a lot of heat from outside, but within, he\u2019s got a lot of support, and he\u2019s very well respected within the side. That will continue,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Although the match will be played on a wicket almost equidistant from either of the square boundaries, Fleming feels the batters don\u2019t have much to worry about, given how the T20 format has evolved to favour their kind.<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cMy understanding is the wicket is pretty much in the middle tomorrow, and the sides are some of the longer boundaries in the competition. We\u2019re aware that we\u2019ve got a little bit more distance to work with. But the power of the batters these days… It\u2019s still not long enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

GT, having played a game at Bengaluru the previous night, didn\u2019t host a press conference.<\/p>\n

\n