Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad is not just a crucial fixture in its push for a playoff spot; it will also be the side’s final home game of the season at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium on Monday.
And if there weren’t already enough reasons for fans to pack the Anbuden, the fixture could mark MS Dhoni’s final outing at Chepauk as a player.
The former CSK captain has not featured in any of the side’s 12 matches this season due to recurring calf and hamstring issues. Dhoni also did not travel for any of the away fixtures.
Come Monday, anticipation is expected to peak in and around Wallajah Road as fans flock to the stadium hoping to catch a glimpse of their “Thala”.
“The number of fans that travel and come to these home games is unbelievable. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life. So, that’s probably partly to do with MS,” Australian quick Spencer Johnson said on Sunday.
On the eve of the fixture, as has been the case before almost every home game, Dhoni padded up and headed into the open nets for an extended session against side-armers and net bowlers.
He began with grounded drives before gradually shifting gears and taking the aerial route. For nearly 15 minutes, Dhoni largely faced spinners before ending the session against seamers, launching them straight back down the ground into the batting “V”.
Johnson described training alongside Dhoni as “surreal” and called it a privilege to be part of the CSK setup.
“Just seeing him around training is a bit of a surreal moment. So very grateful for the fans that come out every game, whether it’s home or away, it feels like a home game. It’s pretty special,” he said.
But when it came to the biggest question of all – whether Dhoni would play on Monday – even Johnson had no answers, keeping the anticipation intact.
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