Chennai Super Kings wrapped up their final home fixture of the IPL 2026 on May 18, but the spotlight on the night was as much about absence as it was about tradition. It marked the first time MS Dhoni had appeared on the field this season, yet the wicketkeeper-batter remained outside CSK’s playing XI. Dhoni has been managing a calf issue and missed the opening stretch of the tournament, and the franchise has indicated that his decision to sit out is aimed at protecting the team’s settled combinations.
With the match taking place at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai—CSK’s last home game of the campaign—the club followed the league’s customary end-of-match ritual. A lap of honour was conducted after the final whistle, reflecting the emotional weight of a home finish.
Ashwin’s reaction to the Dhoni moment
- After the game, former India spinner and CSK colleague Ravichandran Ashwin opened up about what he saw during the lap of honour.
- Ashwin said that Dhoni’s affection for CSK has always been clear to him, but that he did not sense the same visible emotion during the moment on the field.
- He also raised the question of why Dhoni did not join his teammates at the ground on match days, despite being involved with the side for years and spending time in the dressing room for fixtures.
- Ashwin pointed out that Dhoni could still have come to the stadium even if he wasn’t in the XI, and added that he had seen the veteran practicing in the nets.
- He then wondered aloud whether Dhoni stayed away because of the belief that attention would shift toward him and potentially unsettle the team, while also arguing that fans should be allowed to experience the moment fully.
- Ashwin concluded that such things are simply part of cricket’s wider fabric—balancing personal circumstances, team focus, and the crowd’s connection to the sport.
Dhoni’s impact at IPL level is undeniable: he is the joint-most successful captain in the league, having lifted the trophy five times. His title-winning leadership came in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023—benchmarks that continue to define his legacy at CSK.
