Chennai Super Kings supporters at Chepauk had to digest an evening that was both painful and uplifting on Monday. The five-time champions were beaten by Sunrisers Hyderabad by five wickets in what turned out to be a major upset. Yet, amid the disappointment, fans still got a cherished sight when MS Dhoni walked onto the ground, offering a rare reminder of CSK’s enduring legacy.
The 44-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who has been sidelined from CSK’s matches this season because of injury, had not been part of the playing XI. With CSK set to play their last home outing at Chepauk this campaign, Dhoni made sure to be present for a team photograph. He then went on to complete a lap of honour, taking time to acknowledge the loud backing from the Chennai crowd.
That appearance also brought extra emotion for many in the stands, as Dhoni reunited with Suresh Raina. The former India and CSK teammate was at the venue in a commentary role, and the meeting added to the sense of nostalgia surrounding the franchise’s big names. Dhoni and Raina are widely seen as two central pillars of the CSK era that produced four IPL crowns together.
With supporters still hoping to see Dhoni return either in CSK’s final game at Chepauk or later during the IPL 2027 season, Raina shared the substance of an unexpected conversation he had with the former captain about a possible comeback. The message he received from Dhoni, in Raina’s telling, left fans genuinely heartbroken.
“I told him ‘you have given IPL 2026 a missed call. It won’t count. You have to come back next year’. He said ‘my body is a little weak’ — I said ‘we are not believing anything. You have to play next year’. It’s his personal call. I think he is positive. The team is also gelling well again,” Raina said on Star Sports.
Dhoni, who has not played a single CSK match this season, also explained to Raina that his body is not the way it used to be. The implication was clear: taking on the workload of playing for the franchise again next year may be a difficult ask.
In the post-match press conference, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming was further questioned about Dhoni’s future. Fleming stayed non-committal, stressing that the decision ultimately lies with the management rather than the coaching staff.
“It’s a choice for the management. I know there has been a lot of talk about it. MS (Dhoni) has been around a lot this year, which is very important for the team, for young players in continuity, so he’s been a big part. He hasn’t played, but he’s still had a big influence on the team. There’s a lot of good things we’ve done. We’ve introduced some new players that will hopefully be generation players for CSK. But I know we are judged on results, that’s fair. So yeah, that’s a management call, not mine,” Fleming said when asked about the topic.
