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Chepauk stadium was absolutely electric. For the first time, CSK's Ravichandran Ashwin experienced the sheer pandemonium that erupts when MS Dhoni came out to bat during IPL 2025 clash against Mumbai Indians (MI) on March 23. The legendary off-spinner was clearly taken aback, describing the scene as a full-blown festival the moment the crowd's beloved hero reached the pitch.
R Ashwin describes MS Dhoni's rousing entry during CSK vs MI's IPL 2025 clash
Now, Ashwin's no stranger to buzzing stadiums, but witnessing this level of devotion from within the CSK dugout was a whole different ballgame. He even admitted it felt a bit surreal. The reception for Dhoni was so overwhelming, Ashwin said that for a moment the CSK players completely lost track of the tense situation the match was in.
Later, on his YouTube channel, Ashwin painted a vivid picture of the atmosphere. He confessed that the team was so caught up in the sheer spectacle of Dhoni's arrival that they momentarily forgot the game was hanging in the balance. It took them a little while, he explained, to refocus and get back into the thick of things.
"When MS Dhoni came out to bat in Chennai, there was so much noise and chaos that we forgot the situation of the game altogether. 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," Ashwin said on his Youtube channel.
The CSK superstar MS Dhoni commands a massive fanbase no matter where he plays in India. Yet, the adoration and welcome he receives in Chennai have always been on another level, almost dreamlike. For Ravichandran Ashwin, returning to CSK this season meant experiencing this phenomenon firsthand.
Ashwin's IPL journey began with the Chennai Super Kings, where he was a key player from 2009 to 2015. After being released by CSK, he gained valuable experience with other teams like the Rising Pune Supergiants, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals before finally making his way back to his original home franchise.Continuing his narration in the same video, Ashwin further described how the entire stadium's attention was completely fixated on MS Dhoni, even with the match hanging precariously in the balance.
"I was padded up, I was the next batter. I went inside and asked Ruturaj (Gaikwad) how the wicket was and all that was because we still needed 4 runs, but everyone forgot that a match was on the line," he added.
If another wicket had tumbled, Ashwin was next in line to bat. However, MS Dhoni, ever the composed finisher, safely navigated the second-to-last over bowled by off-spinner Naman Dhir. Then came the final over, and Rachin Ravindra wasted no time, smashing the very first ball for a boundary to secure victory for his team. Ravindra's stellar unbeaten knock of 65 runs from just 45 balls guided his side home, with Dhoni remaining not out on 0 at the other end. CSK kicked off their IPL 2025 season with a fantastic win against MI. The home team appeared to be heading for a comfortable win, but the left-arm wrist-spinner Vignesh Puthur injected excitement into the game by taking it down to the wire. Ultimately, Rachin Ravindra's cool head prevailed as he stayed until the end, sealing the deal with a six. Earlier in the innings, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad also contributed a blistering 53 runs off only 26 balls while batting at No. 3, setting a positive tone for Chennai's campaign.
CSK will next face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 28 at the MA Chidambaram stadium.
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