(Cricket News) Thala MS Dhoni has joined the Chennai Super Kings for their preparatory camp in Chennai ahead of the IPL 2024. CSK’s camp started on the 2nd of March and MS Dhoni has finally joined his side 17 days before the start of the season.

MSD was suffering with a knee injury in the previous season of the IPL and played the entire edition with strapped knee. Post lifting the IPL title for the 5th time, Dhoni underwent a knee surgery in June last year and is doing well now. He will now finally make a much-awaited return after 10 months off from the game.

CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan on the sidelines of the launch of the Junior Super Kings tournament in December said: “He [Dhoni] is doing well now. He has started his rehab and is working in the gym.”

Visuals of MSD working out in the gym in Ranchi has been all over the internet in the past few months. He also had a net session at the JSCA stadium in Ranchi previous month. A fit MS Dhoni would boost the moral of the defending champions even higher as they would be in a hunt for their 6th title, leaving Mumbai Indians behind.

CSK, however has suffered with an injury blow ahead of the season, as Devon Conway is expected to be out of cricket till May due to a thumb injury. Conway was a good wicket-keeping option for the kings and could have been used as MSD’s back-up if needed. Now, CSK only have a solitary back-up option for their skipper, in the form of young Aravelly Avanish.

Super Kings, the defending champions will begin their 2024 campaign with a clash against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the season opener at Chepauk on March 22.

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