Kamal Ghorui
Mumbai: Are legendary captain MS Dhoni and England star all-rounder Will Jacks set to return to action in the big-ticket Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday night? After days of anticipation, that could well be the case. Dhoni trained intensely in the CSK nets at the Wankhede on Tuesday night. Notably, he kept wickets for around half an hour and also batted for about 30 minutes. The 44-year-old, who suffered a calf strain during the pre-season camp, was seen striking the ball fluently without any visible discomfort. However, Dhoni had also been practising with the CSK squad in Chennai earlier. CSK are currently placed eighth on the IPL 2026 points table, with two wins and four losses. His potential return would add valuable depth to their batting. Meanwhile, Jacks has finally arrived in India after missing MI’s first six matches. The England star, who was a standout performer in the 2026 T20 World Cup with four Player of the Match awards, trained in MI’s nets at the Wankhede on Monday between 5 pm and 6 pm, and also took part in an optional practice session under lights on Tuesday. The 27-year-old off-spinner bowled in the nets and batted for nearly an hour. His arrival is a major boost for MI, whose campaign regained momentum after a dominant 99-run win over Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday night. Jacks’ arrival had been delayed for undisclosed reasons, with the MI management refraining from revealing details about his absence during the first three weeks of IPL 2026. His presence was eagerly awaited by both the management and fans. As a powerful middle-order batter and a capable spinner, Jacks strengthens both departments for MI. His inclusion could force the team to leave out one of their overseas spinners — Allah Ghazanfar or Mitchell Santner. Having delivered several useful cameos at No. 6 and 7 for England during the T20 World Cup, Jacks also offers MI a reliable finishing option. Spencer Johnson joins CSK squad In another boost for CSK, Australian pacer Spencer Johnson, signed as a replacement for Nathan Ellis, joined the squad in Mumbai on Tuesday ahead of the marquee clash. The left-arm quick trained with the team at the Wankhede and is expected to feature in the playing XI on Thursday night, likely replacing Khaleel Ahmed, who was ruled out with an injury last week. Injuries have significantly dented CSK’s campaign after a slow start. In their previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, young batter Ayush Mhatre suffered a hamstring injury, ruling him out of the remainder of IPL 2026.
