IPL 2020: Will CSK skipper MS Dhoni play against KXIP on Sunday? Here’s his fitness update

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to face the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the match 18 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday. CSK are desperately in need of a win after losing three consecutive matches. Moreover, their skipper MS Dhoni didn’t look fit during the match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

After running quick doubles every time, he was struggling and even had to take a tablet in the death overs of the chase. It was a pleasant sight at all for the fans with their favourite players gasping for breath due to the heat of UAE. He did wicket-keeping for whole 20 overs and then came out to bat in the 7th over of the chase. With a quick turn-around between the two matches, there have been concerns over MS Dhoni playing the match on Sunday.

According to the reports in InsideSport, the CSK skipper is not 100% fit but will still play the game. The sources close to the team have confirmed that the 39-year-old was completely exhausted after the SRH game. Even MS Dhoni himself said the same in the post-match presentation ceremony. He has been resting for the last 24 hours and the support staff is working hard to make him ready for the game against KXIP.

“I tried to get as much as time as possible. It is quite dry out here. So, the throat gets dry and you start to cough. When you have legal signs, you can take some time off,” he had said.

MS Dhoni-led CSK likely to be unchanged
Meanwhile, the CSK coach Stephen Fleming has indirectly confirmed that they might not make any changes to their playing XI for the game on Sunday. There is a case for Imran Tahir to come in but it leaves them considerably short on batting. “Both Watson and Jadhav are looking for substantial contributions. Shane can light the fuse at any stage and Kedhar the same.

“It’s just our fourth game so it’s pretty early in our cycle of form, but there is no doubt there is pressure and they will be feeling it more than what I am talking about,” Fleming said ahead of the game.