Chennai Super Kings faced another match without their talisman MS Dhoni on Saturday, but that did not deter the fans in yellow from painting Hyderabad in the colors of the franchise. CSK, who were in town against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, witnessed a sea of yellow flooding the stadium as supporters turned up in large numbers to support one of the most famous figures in Indian cricket.
MS Dhoni, who has been sidelined with a calf injury since the start of the ongoing Indian Premier League season, was spotted batting in the nets on the eve of the match. While his inclusion in the playing XI remained uncertain, it did little to dampen the enthusiasm of his fans, who were determined to follow their favorite player regardless. Dhoni was eventually left out of the playing XI and impact substitutes.
Hours before the start of the match, hundreds of fans in the iconic yellow CSK jersey they were already seen chanting Dhoni’s name and creating an electrifying atmosphere around the stadium.
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One user X even called on fellow Dhoni fans to gather at gates 6 and 7 of the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium at around 4:30 pm to create a ruckus before the match.
“Let’s celebrate massively,” the user wrote, sharing a picture of fans holding large posters and banners in support of CSK and their legendary captain.
THE DILEMMA OF CHOOSING CSK
Although the 44-year-old’s influence on the field for the Chennai-based franchise has gradually diminished over the past few years, his fan following remains unrivaled in the tournament. Even in his absence, the amount of support he has continues to be one of the defining features of CSK’s presence at various venues.
At the same time, Dhoni’s potential returning from injury presents a selection dilemma for the teamwhich recently found a rhythm in the competition. CSK started their campaign with three consecutive losses but managed to bounce back with a win in their first home match. Since then, they have recorded two wins on the trot and will likely look to maintain a winning combination as they look to build momentum in the tournament.
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Published on:
18 Apr 2026 19:08 IST
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