For most of the pre-match days at\u00a0Chepauk, he usually enters the ground in the latter half of Chennai Super Kings\u2019 practice session. On Saturday, though, he walked down the famed stairs of the\u00a0
\nWankhede Stadium soon after the batters started a range-hitting streak and had a gentle jog with the team physio Tommy\u00a0Simsek.<\/p>\n

As he returns to lead the men in yellow,\u00a0M.S. Dhoni will be expected to sprint to a cameo and give the\u00a0CSK
\n\u00a0campaign a much-needed boost at the start of the latter half of the\u00a0IPL.<\/p>\n

While Dhoni will continue to be in the limelight in the marquee clash between the two most successful\u00a0IPL teams, both the camps will be eager for a convincing win to switch gears into the league.<\/p>\n

Both teams have been languishing in the bottom half at the halfway stage. Despite notching a win in their last games, neither outfit appears to be a settled lot that\u2019s ready to challenge for a place in the\u00a0Playoffs yet.<\/p>\n

The pitch, though, will be in focus, with Thursday\u2019s strip being a tacky, slow turner. With the adjacent strip that saw a run-feast against Royal Challengers\u00a0Bengaluru\u00a0being used, fans can hope for a six-hitting contest.<\/p>\n

Karn Sharma, the MI\u00a0leggie, is all but ruled out after having split his webbing against\u00a0Sunrisers Hyderabad. The home team will thus be banking on Will Jacks\u2019\u00a0offspin to stifle yet another left-handed top-order.<\/p>\n

CSK will be tempted to field\u00a0Dewald Brevis, who joined the camp on Saturday, considering his familiarity with the conditions and the desperation\u00a0\u00a0to infuse aggression in its batting order.<\/p>\n