CSK Roar 2026 Highlights: MS Dhoni, AR Rahman, Sanju Samson Shine At Chepauk, Why Rival Coaches Were Present?

Add as a preferred source on Google

Ahead of the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the MA Chidambaram Stadium was buzzing with celebrations as the Chennai Super Kings hosted a special fan event on Sunday, CSK Roar 2026. The event brought together several of their former stars under one roof.

The occasion turned into a nostalgic reunion, with legends like Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Dwayne Bravo, Muttiah Muralitharan, Murali Vijay, Parthiv Patel, S Badrinath, and Suresh Raina returning in the iconic yellow jersey and stepping back onto the Chepauk turf.

The star of the show was, as usual, MS Dhoni, who grabbed the limelight and became the centre of attention. The 44-year-old made a grand entry into the event and received a roaring reception from the fans, drawing huge cheers from the crowd who had gathered for the special event, with a live performance by Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman.

MSD's Emotional Connection With Fans

The bond between MS Dhoni and his fans was on full display, with one supporter visibly moved to tears as he walked out to lead an energetic training session. The event, titled 'Roar 26', was hosted by Chennai Super Kings to honour former players while also celebrating World Cup winners in the current setup.

While Dhoni drew the biggest cheers, Suresh Raina also received a thunderous welcome from the crowd. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson, set to represent CSK in IPL 2026 after his move from Rajasthan Royals, was greeted with loud applause.

Dhoni looked relaxed and in high spirits as he donned the gloves, keeping wickets for his former teammates. He watched Michael Hussey charge down the pitch and launch Ruturaj Gaikwad's part-time off-spin into the stands. Moments later, Dhoni was behind the stumps again as Samson leaned back and smashed a six off Muttiah Muralitharan.

Dhoni and former West Indies cricketer Dwayne Bravo were engaged in some light-hearted on-field banter. When Bravo charged down the pitch and missed a big shot, MS Dhoni had an easy stumping opportunity but opted not to complete it. Later, Bravo delighted the Chepauk crowd by breaking into song before walking over to Dhoni and sharing a heartfelt embrace with his former captain.

Dhoni Honours Sanju Samson And Shivam Dube For T20 WC

The former Indian captain then went on to honour India's T20 World Cup heroes, Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, presenting them with special mementoes. Besides Samson and Dube, Ayush Mhatre, who led India's U-19 team to World Cup glory was also felicitated by Dhoni.

Why Were Rival Coaches Present In The Event?

Chennai Super Kings sought approval from Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, and Kolkata Knight Riders to have their current coaching staff released for the day so they could be part of the event. Among those who attended were SRH bowling coach Muttiah Muralitharan, GT's newly appointed batting coach Matthew Hayden, and KKR mentor Dwayne Bravo.