Dhoni’s return delayed after calf injury worsened, reveals CSK head coach Fleming M. S. Dhoni’s recovery from a calf strain has been delayed as the niggle seems to have worsened during a warm-up fixture, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming revealed after the host sunk to an eight-wicket loss against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
“He’s pretty keen (on returning to action). The calf is a tough one though. If he takes off and rips the calf again, he will be gone. We had pushed it early. In a warm-up game, he tweaked it again; it’s my understanding. And since then, he has just been working hard to get some movement. But there was a setback. So, it has taken longer than we thought. He’s the guide on this one. And he’s working hard with the physio and doing all the rehab. We’re just waiting for the word, really,” Fleming said during the press conference.
Although CSK lost, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad finally got a fifty on the board, albeit it was the slowest by any batter over the last three years. Fleming, however, feels his 60-ball 74 needs to be seen in a different light. “He couldn’t use the pace of the ball until about the full length of overs. It was a real struggle. Jason Holder was getting steep bounce. (Kagiso) Rabada was getting steep bounce. It was inconsistent. And he struggled. He had to grind that out. So, it was a testament really to his grip just to get a score on the board.”
Even Holder heaped praise on Gaikwad’s knock. “That was a really good innings by him. He absorbed pressure but got caught up in the back end. Everyone can’t play like that obviously, but it’s a wicket where if you go out front trying to go too hard, you can get yourself in some trouble,” the Barbadian fast-bowling all-rounder opined.
ALSO READ | Bowlers floor Chennai Super Kings to help Gujarat Titans get back on track
Rabada was named the Player of the Match for his three wickets, including the scalp of the in-form Sanju Samson. Fleming felt the pitch aided the South African pacer to a great extent.
“The pitch played a big part. There was some inconsistent bounce. But Rabada is an outstanding bowler. So he was always going to get some bounce. And he hit a good length today and just put us under pressure. It was difficult. You can go two ways. You can attack it. (Urvil) Patel is always going to attack it. Sarfaraz (Khan) is reasonably aggressive, which is the trend these days. And when that doesn’t work, you’ve just got to soak up a bit of pressure. We just couldn’t get it going in time to get a score that was going to be competitive,” the Kiwi said.
Fleming echoed Shivam Dube’s thoughts, who felt 158 was “the best score here” during the mid-innings break. “We actually thought 160 was competitive. But we just couldn’t extract the same amount. Obviously, it dried out. There was a change. It was going to get slower. We just couldn’t extract the same type of assistance as they did in the first 10 overs… I don’t want to sound like I’m making too big an excuse, but I just think the first 10 overs today were tough in terms of conditions. That’s what we felt. We were all looking at it through a different lens.”
Holder also presented his views on the pitch, which may have explained why the Titans’ captain, Shubman Gill, chose to bowl in the baking afternoon conditions of Chepauk. “When we started, we felt there was a lot in the wicket. There was a lot of moisture; the ball had some steep bumps as well up front, which really helped our bowlers. Having said that, CSK probably got stuck between a rock and a hard place while trying to obviously get some runs on the board, score at a decent clip, but also not give the wickets away. My top bowlers were outstanding, both Rabada and (Mohammed) Siraj. It created a lot of problems for the CSK top order. It’s always a tricky one when you’re trying to get some runs on the board and maximise the PowerPlay.”
Published on Apr 26, 2026
#Dhonis #return #delayed #calf #injury #worsened #reveals #CSK #coach #Fleming
M. S. Dhoni’s recovery from a calf strain has been delayed as the niggle seems to have worsened during a warm-up fixture, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming revealed after the host sunk to an eight-wicket loss against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
“He’s pretty keen (on returning to action). The calf is a tough one though. If he takes off and rips the calf again, he will be gone. We had pushed it early. In a warm-up game, he tweaked it again; it’s my understanding. And since then, he has just been working hard to get some movement. But there was a setback. So, it has taken longer than we thought. He’s the guide on this one. And he’s working hard with the physio and doing all the rehab. We’re just waiting for the word, really,” Fleming said during the press conference.
Although CSK lost, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad finally got a fifty on the board, albeit it was the slowest by any batter over the last three years. Fleming, however, feels his 60-ball 74 needs to be seen in a different light. “He couldn’t use the pace of the ball until about the full length of overs. It was a real struggle. Jason Holder was getting steep bounce. (Kagiso) Rabada was getting steep bounce. It was inconsistent. And he struggled. He had to grind that out. So, it was a testament really to his grip just to get a score on the board.”
Even Holder heaped praise on Gaikwad’s knock. “That was a really good innings by him. He absorbed pressure but got caught up in the back end. Everyone can’t play like that obviously, but it’s a wicket where if you go out front trying to go too hard, you can get yourself in some trouble,” the Barbadian fast-bowling all-rounder opined.
ALSO READ | Bowlers floor Chennai Super Kings to help Gujarat Titans get back on track
Rabada was named the Player of the Match for his three wickets, including the scalp of the in-form Sanju Samson. Fleming felt the pitch aided the South African pacer to a great extent.
“The pitch played a big part. There was some inconsistent bounce. But Rabada is an outstanding bowler. So he was always going to get some bounce. And he hit a good length today and just put us under pressure. It was difficult. You can go two ways. You can attack it. (Urvil) Patel is always going to attack it. Sarfaraz (Khan) is reasonably aggressive, which is the trend these days. And when that doesn’t work, you’ve just got to soak up a bit of pressure. We just couldn’t get it going in time to get a score that was going to be competitive,” the Kiwi said.
Fleming echoed Shivam Dube’s thoughts, who felt 158 was “the best score here” during the mid-innings break. “We actually thought 160 was competitive. But we just couldn’t extract the same amount. Obviously, it dried out. There was a change. It was going to get slower. We just couldn’t extract the same type of assistance as they did in the first 10 overs… I don’t want to sound like I’m making too big an excuse, but I just think the first 10 overs today were tough in terms of conditions. That’s what we felt. We were all looking at it through a different lens.”
Holder also presented his views on the pitch, which may have explained why the Titans’ captain, Shubman Gill, chose to bowl in the baking afternoon conditions of Chepauk. “When we started, we felt there was a lot in the wicket. There was a lot of moisture; the ball had some steep bumps as well up front, which really helped our bowlers. Having said that, CSK probably got stuck between a rock and a hard place while trying to obviously get some runs on the board, score at a decent clip, but also not give the wickets away. My top bowlers were outstanding, both Rabada and (Mohammed) Siraj. It created a lot of problems for the CSK top order. It’s always a tricky one when you’re trying to get some runs on the board and maximise the PowerPlay.”
Published on Apr 26, 2026
![Deadspin | SEC notebook: Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy cleared after shooting; recovery timeline TBD Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy (29) reacts to his first down pickup during the first quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Jacksonville. Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared for football activities just over two months after being shot in the upper leg, head coach Eli Drinkwitz announced Monday. Hardy was shot while attending an outdoor concert on May 10 in Laurel, Miss. “We anticipate he will make a recovery, but what that recovery will look like after having a bullet strike you is still to be determined,” Drinkwitz said Monday at SEC Media Days. “We do not know exactly what the return to play progression is because there’s not a lot of literature to that on this. “We do anticipate this return to play protocol could take anywhere from five-to-eight weeks, and at the end of the eight weeks, we still don’t know what the recovery will be — is he the same Ahmad Hardy as he was last year? My anticipation and what I’ve seen and the way he’s attacked his rehab, he’s going to be a better Ahmad Hardy than he was before.” Drinkwitz said Hardy likely learned an important lesson during the ordeal. “I think there’s a youthfulness feel of invincibility for all of these guys right now from 18 to 22 (years) old, and they’re empowered more now than they’ve ever been before, whether that’s financially or influence,” Drinkwitz said. “I think for Ahmad, there was that moment there where he realized he was mortal, and there could be really bad outcomes if you don’t make the right decisions consistently. “It was an unfortunate accident, incident and it wasn’t something he had any intention, nobody did. When you go to a concert, you don’t expect to be a victim of a random act of violence, especially gun violence. But I’ve been very, very proud of the way he has approached his recovery. This was a great opportunity for Ahmad to learn and for our student-athletes to learn. Also a great reminder there’s no place for gun violence in this world and that we need to do a better job of policing gun violence.” Missouri opens the 2026 season on Sept. 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Columbia, Mo. That is approximately 6 1/2 weeks into the recovery timeline. Hardy, 20, is a Mississippi native. He began his career at Louisiana-Monroe, where he was named the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year after he led the conference in rushing yards (1,351) and rushing touchdowns (13) on 237 attempts. He transferred to Missouri, where he ranked second among FBS players with 1,649 rushing yards last season, a mark that broke the Tigers’ single-season record. He earned SEC Newcomer of the Year honors, was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and a consensus All-American while scoring 16 TDs and averaging 6.4 yards on his 256 rushing attempts. –Oklahoma not noticing newfound national respect A year ago, there were some valid questions about Brett Venables’ future at Oklahoma. After 6-7 campaigns in two of his first three seasons, the Sooners needed a breakthrough in 2025 for their coach’s sake. They delivered just that, finishing a 10-2 regular season, earning the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff and hosting a first-round game they lost to Alabama. Now, Venables enters Year 5 at Oklahoma on a cooler seat and with higher expectations. Quarterback John Mateer is back and fully recovered from the throwing hand injury that limited him last season. A number of key pieces from the Sooners’ stellar defense are also back this fall. The coach is trying not to give any of that attention much mind. “We focus on things that we can control,” Venables said. “Do you ever use that as a motivation for a guy to maybe humble a guy? Absolutely. But at the end of the day this is a game of performance, this is a game that’s about the work, and this is a game where it’s decided on the field.” His Sooners will get to prove their worth early in the season, playing at Michigan, at Georgia and facing Texas in Dallas in their first five games of the season. –Will Stein brings extreme confidence to Kentucky When it comes to Kentucky, football isn’t the first sport that comes to mind. But with the confidence that first-year coach Will Stein is bringing to the Wildcats, he certainly believes that will change. Stein, who rose to prominence as Oregon’s offensive coordinator the last three seasons, takes over a program that has won double-digit games just twice since 1977. As the 36-year-old Louisville native took the podium Monday, he took the opportunity presented by a reporter asking him why he believes he’ll win big in Lexington to demonstrate his strong self-belief. “I think because of me, to be honest,” Stein said. “Because of me. I think I know what it takes. I’ve seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level. You’ve just got to believe, man. You’ve just got to put the ball down and play. There’s not really (much) else to be said.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #SEC #notebook #Missouri #Ahmad #Hardy #cleared #shooting #recovery #timeline #TBD Deadspin | SEC notebook: Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy cleared after shooting; recovery timeline TBD Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy (29) reacts to his first down pickup during the first quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Jacksonville. Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared for football activities just over two months after being shot in the upper leg, head coach Eli Drinkwitz announced Monday. Hardy was shot while attending an outdoor concert on May 10 in Laurel, Miss. “We anticipate he will make a recovery, but what that recovery will look like after having a bullet strike you is still to be determined,” Drinkwitz said Monday at SEC Media Days. “We do not know exactly what the return to play progression is because there’s not a lot of literature to that on this. “We do anticipate this return to play protocol could take anywhere from five-to-eight weeks, and at the end of the eight weeks, we still don’t know what the recovery will be — is he the same Ahmad Hardy as he was last year? My anticipation and what I’ve seen and the way he’s attacked his rehab, he’s going to be a better Ahmad Hardy than he was before.” Drinkwitz said Hardy likely learned an important lesson during the ordeal. “I think there’s a youthfulness feel of invincibility for all of these guys right now from 18 to 22 (years) old, and they’re empowered more now than they’ve ever been before, whether that’s financially or influence,” Drinkwitz said. “I think for Ahmad, there was that moment there where he realized he was mortal, and there could be really bad outcomes if you don’t make the right decisions consistently. “It was an unfortunate accident, incident and it wasn’t something he had any intention, nobody did. When you go to a concert, you don’t expect to be a victim of a random act of violence, especially gun violence. But I’ve been very, very proud of the way he has approached his recovery. This was a great opportunity for Ahmad to learn and for our student-athletes to learn. Also a great reminder there’s no place for gun violence in this world and that we need to do a better job of policing gun violence.” Missouri opens the 2026 season on Sept. 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Columbia, Mo. That is approximately 6 1/2 weeks into the recovery timeline. Hardy, 20, is a Mississippi native. He began his career at Louisiana-Monroe, where he was named the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year after he led the conference in rushing yards (1,351) and rushing touchdowns (13) on 237 attempts. He transferred to Missouri, where he ranked second among FBS players with 1,649 rushing yards last season, a mark that broke the Tigers’ single-season record. He earned SEC Newcomer of the Year honors, was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and a consensus All-American while scoring 16 TDs and averaging 6.4 yards on his 256 rushing attempts. –Oklahoma not noticing newfound national respect A year ago, there were some valid questions about Brett Venables’ future at Oklahoma. After 6-7 campaigns in two of his first three seasons, the Sooners needed a breakthrough in 2025 for their coach’s sake. They delivered just that, finishing a 10-2 regular season, earning the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff and hosting a first-round game they lost to Alabama. Now, Venables enters Year 5 at Oklahoma on a cooler seat and with higher expectations. Quarterback John Mateer is back and fully recovered from the throwing hand injury that limited him last season. A number of key pieces from the Sooners’ stellar defense are also back this fall. The coach is trying not to give any of that attention much mind. “We focus on things that we can control,” Venables said. “Do you ever use that as a motivation for a guy to maybe humble a guy? Absolutely. But at the end of the day this is a game of performance, this is a game that’s about the work, and this is a game where it’s decided on the field.” His Sooners will get to prove their worth early in the season, playing at Michigan, at Georgia and facing Texas in Dallas in their first five games of the season. –Will Stein brings extreme confidence to Kentucky When it comes to Kentucky, football isn’t the first sport that comes to mind. But with the confidence that first-year coach Will Stein is bringing to the Wildcats, he certainly believes that will change. Stein, who rose to prominence as Oregon’s offensive coordinator the last three seasons, takes over a program that has won double-digit games just twice since 1977. As the 36-year-old Louisville native took the podium Monday, he took the opportunity presented by a reporter asking him why he believes he’ll win big in Lexington to demonstrate his strong self-belief. “I think because of me, to be honest,” Stein said. “Because of me. I think I know what it takes. I’ve seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level. You’ve just got to believe, man. You’ve just got to put the ball down and play. There’s not really (much) else to be said.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #SEC #notebook #Missouri #Ahmad #Hardy #cleared #shooting #recovery #timeline #TBD](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200,fo-auto/27891314.jpg)
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