When MS Dhoni stepped out to bat for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) against their arch-rivals Mumbai Indians on March 23, the atmosphere at the MA Chidambaram Stadium reached a fever pitch. The sheer volume of noise and the waves of excitement that swept through the stands were so overwhelming that even seasoned players momentarily lost sight of the match situation.

Ravichandran Ashwin, a veteran off-spinner and Dhoni’s former teammate, revealed the surreal experience in a candid reflection on his YouTube channel.

“When MS Dhoni came out to bat in Chennai, there was so much noise and chaos that we forgot the situation of the game only. MS Dhoni has earned the love. It was for the first time I was seeing that reception from the CSK dressing room; I always saw it from the outside,” Ravichandran Ashwin shared.

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The scene was particularly special for Ashwin, who returned to the CSK setup after a decade. Having previously witnessed Dhoni’s legendary receptions from a rival’s perspective, experiencing it firsthand was a moment of awe. The game itself was delicately poised when Dhoni walked in, with the Mumbai spinners tightening the screws. Yet, in the midst of the frenzy, even Ashwin, padded up to bat next, found himself momentarily swept away by the euphoria.

“I was padded up, I was the next batter. I went inside and asked Ruturaj how the wicket and all that because we still needed 4 runs, but everyone forgot that a match was on the line,” Ravichandran Ashwin admitted.

While Dhoni couldn’t secure the winning runs himself, his impact on the game was undeniable. Earlier, he showcased his lightning-fast reflexes with a sharp stumping to dismiss Mumbai’s captain Suryakumar Yadav — a testament to his enduring class behind the stumps.

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MS Dhoni, who had initially expressed skepticism about the Impact Player rule in the IPL, now accepts it as part of T20 cricket’s evolution. Yet, he humbly downplayed the idea of being labeled an “Impact Player,” emphasizing that his primary role remains as the team’s trusted wicketkeeper. As IPL 2025 progresses, the sight of Dhoni in yellow continues to remind fans why he is a revered icon, both on and off the field.