If one calf strain was not enough, MS Dhoni has faced another setback. Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has revealed that the former captain has “tweaked” his calf again. Fleming indicated that Dhoni’s return to the playing XI for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has been further delayed after the veteran wicketkeeper-batter suffered another setback in his recovery. Dhoni, who was initially expected to miss only the opening two weeks of IPL 2026, has now been sidelined for nearly a month, with CSK already eight matches into their campaign without their talismanic former captain featuring even once.

Providing an update after Chennai’s defeat to Gujarat Titans on Sunday, Fleming revealed that the 42-year-old aggravated the injury during a practice session, complicating what was initially thought to be a short-term issue.

“He’s pretty keen. The calf is a tough one, though. If he takes off and rips the calf again, then he will be gone. So we pushed it early, in the warm-up game – he tweaked it again, is my understanding – and since then he has been working hard to get some movement into it. But there was another setback, so it has taken longer than we thought,” Fleming said while addressing the media after CSK’s loss to GT on Sunday.

Despite his absence from match action, Dhoni has remained involved in training sessions. He has frequently been spotted working on his batting in the nets, largely focusing on throwdowns, although he has gradually increased his workload in recent days. On Saturday, he was seen sprinting under the supervision of the team physio before spending time facing spin bowlers as well as deliveries from batting coach Michael Hussey.

The former CSK skipper was also seen donning the wicketkeeping gloves during the team’s practice session at the Wankhede Stadium ahead of their clash against the Mumbai Indians last week.

Fleming emphasised that the final call on Dhoni’s comeback rests with the player himself, while the support staff continues to monitor his progress closely.

“He is the guide on this one. He’s working hard with the physio and doing all the rehab, and we’re just waiting for the word, really. But all I can keep saying is to stop making light of it, because he is progressing and doing everything he can,” Fleming added.

Chennai’s campaign has been inconsistent so far, with five defeats in their first eight outings, leaving them placed sixth on the points table. The side now has a brief window to regroup, with a five-day break before their next fixture against arch-rivals MI at home on May 2.

As speculation around Dhoni’s availability continues to dominate the narrative, the franchise will be hoping for a timely return from the experienced campaigner as they look to revive their season.

With IANS inputs 

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For All Mankind season 5 episode 5 ends with Celia discovering that Yoon’s death was connected to a larger cover-up rather than an isolated incident. After reviewing suit checkout records and confronting Fred, Celia learns he was present on the night Yoon died and was involved in the confrontation that led to his death.

Fred explains that Yoon had been blackmailing Kuragin and threatening to expose the company’s automation plans. Celia also learns that officials, including Sheriff Palmer and others in authority, were aware of what happened. In For All Mankind season 5, this revelation links Yoon’s death to corporate interests, internal corruption, and the growing unrest across Happy Valley.

For All Mankind season 5 episode 5 recap: What did Celia find in the records?

A major turning point in For All Mankind season 5 episode 5 occurs when Celia reviews suit checkout records tied to surface duty. She has already noticed inconsistencies involving Peacekeepers assigned to Kuragin night shipments.

The records show several officers were active the night Yoon died, despite earlier claims that no one saw or contacted him. The key detail is Fred’s name on the list. He had urged Celia to stop investigating and never disclosed that he was on duty.

In For All Mankind season 5, this discovery moves Celia from suspicion to evidence. It also links Yoon’s death to official security operations rather than an isolated incident.

Did Fred admit what happened to Yoon?

Finding Fred’s last name among the records, Celia decides to talk to him personally. For All Mankind season 5 episode 5 provides the viewer with this scene being another major plot point. It appears that Fred participated in the incident that resulted in Yoon’s death.

According to him, Yoon was threatening to expose the secrets of Kuragin regarding the company’s plans to automate its facilities, which would result in the workers’ strike. Fred had to intimidate him, but the outcome was lethal. Thus, the death of Yoon was not related to just one person and some sort of vendetta. His death was connected to the secret corporate plan that would have caused problems on Mars before.

Furthermore, Fred admits that the previous attack when Celia was beaten in the lower base of the space station was also part of this plan to impede her investigations. For All Mankind season 5 makes this confession significant because of several reasons. Besides the clarification of what happened with Yoon, the protagonist realizes that her colleague lied to her.

How deep does the cover-up go?

The most significant part of Celia’s discovery is that Yoon’s death may involve more than Fred alone. Fred tells her that Sheriff Palmer and other officials already know what happened. It shows evidence of a conspiracy among Mars officials.

If Fred is correct, Kuragin officials, police, and political leaders all had incentives to cover up the event. The disclosure of the death of Yoon, together with the automation project, would have sparked more public outrage earlier. It relates to the broader conflict where citizens demonstrate against their government’s intention to automate Mars and send home most laborers. These parties who favor the automation project are also behind the cover-up of an individual’s death.

Celia is aware of the danger associated with reporting through legal means. Fred informs her that any claims against individuals in positions of authority will likely be brushed aside and thrown back at her. She might suffer retribution or even deportation to Earth.

Therefore, Celia is left with two choices. Either she keeps quiet about it or discloses it to the general public. Season 5 of For All Mankind depicts a similar situation involving Alex and Lily’s earlier leak of internal documents.

How Yoon’s death connects to the Mars protests

The fifth episode combines two separate stories. The first is Celia’s investigation into Yoon’s murder, and the second one is the revolt in Happy Valley. They are a consequence of the wider conflict over the governance of the planet and its future. The citizens take to the streets when they hear about Helios and Kuragin’s plans to automate the colony, which means that most of its employees will have to go back home to Earth.

According to Celia’s research, Yoon’s death had something to do with keeping the automation program secret. Consequently, the process of solving the crime becomes an integral part of a similar mechanism of suppression, intimidation, and oppression that provokes revolts in the colony.

On the other hand, the government uses curfew and police force to disperse protesters. There are conflicts between people and the Peacekeepers, resulting in clashes throughout the colony. For All Mankind season 5 episode 5 ends up with the escalation of both a public scandal and Celia’s personal investigation.

For All Mankind season 5 is streaming on Apple TV+.