Islamabad, 24 March 2025: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon MS Dhoni and Mumbai Indians (MI) Deepak Chahar shared a light-hearted moment after their IPL 2025 encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.
CSK secured a four-wicket victory, successfully chasing 156 with five balls to spare.
As players lined up for the post-match handshake, Dhoni playfully tapped Chahar with his bat, bringing laughter among teammates.
The broadcasters captured the moment, and fans were quick to circulate the clip on social media, highlighting the bond between the two. The duo exchanged a few words, adding to the warm atmosphere.
Commenting on the moment, former cricketer Aakash Chopra humorously remarked on air that Dhoni could have played at least one shot.
Earlier, Chahar had even attempted to sledge Dhoni upon his arrival at the crease, indicating to stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav that he would field close to him.
Playing his first match for Mumbai, Chahar made an impact with a quickfire 25 off 12 balls while batting at No. 9.
His late surge helped MI reach 155/9 in 20 overs, with Noor Ahmad’s impressive 4/18 dismantling their middle order.
Dhoni, meanwhile, made a brief appearance in CSK’s chase, much to the delight of the packed Chepauk crowd.
Walking in with just four runs required, he faced two deliveries without scoring, allowing Rachin Ravindra to finish the game with a six.
Ravindra, who earned the Player of the Match award, remained unbeaten on 65 off 45 balls.
CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, batting at No. 3 instead of his usual opening spot, contributed with a swift 53 off 26 deliveries.
This defeat marked MI’s 13th consecutive loss in their opening IPL game. Their last successful start to a season came in 2012.
