Dhoni likely to be fit sooner than expected: Stephen Fleming

Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is down with an elbow injury, could be seen in Indian Premier League action sooner than expected and he is likely to take the field against Mumbai Indians on March 25.

CSK coach Stephen Fleming today said Dhoni could be fit before their away match against Mumbai Indians though earlier assessment just after the skipper's elbow injury on March 16
was that he would be available only after the Mumbai game.

"We are in touch (with Dhoni). He is recovering slowly. Physio has asked him to be ready to bat in Mumbai game. Dhoni will be seen by physio well before that and we are hoping that he will be available for our matches starting with Mumbai," Fleming told reporters when asked about Dhoni's condition ahead of tomorrow's match against Kings XI Punjab here.

This would mean that Dhoni would miss CSK's match against Kings XI Punjab here tomorrow and their away match against
Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 23.

Fleming said his players cannot lower their guards against Kings XI Punjab who are yet to notch up a win in their three matches.

"I think it is a dangerous side to be playing against. We got to put them under pressure straight away and hopefully expose some lack of confidence which will come from losing those games. We cannot be over confident and slip up. We have to have discipline in bowling and fielding," said the former New Zealand captain.