Highlights:
- MS Dhoni made an impressive entry at the Chepauk ground during a practice match, ahead of CSK’s season-opening match against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023.
- The Chepauk crowd chanted ‘Dhoni-Dhoni’ as Thala arrived to thunderous applause, leaving a mark at the Chepauk.
- CSK will be led by Dhoni in IPL 2023 and they will play their first full IPL season at home since 2019 at the Chepauk Stadium.
During a practice session on Monday at the famous MA Chidambaram Stadium, the legendary cricketer MS Dhoni stepped out to bat in front of thousands of fans after a brief session of spray painting in which he expressed his love for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faithful. The former India captain, better known by his nick name Thala, left a mark at the Chepauk before CSK’s season-opening match against Hardik Pandya’s Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) season 2023.
Dhoni was welcomed with a thunderous roar when the CSK captain graced the Chepauk ground during the warm-up game. The official Super Kings social media account also posted a video of Dhoni making a big entry at the Chepauk. CSK fans were serenading Dhoni when the veteran cricketer went out from the dugout at the Chepauk. ‘Dhoni-Dhoni’ was being chanted by the Chepauk crowd as Thala arrived to thunderous applause. The internet community quickly started talking about the video.
The previous winners Chennai Super Kings will be led by Dhoni in the upcoming IPL season. The 10-team competition saw Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings place ninth the previous year. In the league stage of the cash-rich tournament, the Yellow Brigade only managed to win four games while losing ten of them. Only eight points were accumulated by Dhoni and company in 14 games last season. The experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, 41, was replaced as the captain of the Chennai franchise after giving up the position to concentrate on his own play. In the opening game of the IPL 2023 on Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Dhoni’s CSK will take on Gujarat Titans.
Read | 15 Best Fantasy Cricket Apps In India
The overseas duo of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana will join the CSK camp after competing for Sri Lanka in the white-ball series against New Zealand, while speedster Mukesh Choudhary is doubtful to start. Ben Stokes of England was already acquired by CSK for the astounding price of INR 16.25 crore at the IPL 2023 auction. Ajinkya Rahane, a former vice-captain of India, joined the four-time champions for IPL 2023. The Chennai Super Kings are playing their first full IPL season at home since 2019 at the Chepauk Stadium.