"Cut Out MS Dhoni’s Boost Sticker ”:Sanju Samson's Heartfelt Dhoni Story Is Every 2000s Cricket Fan’s Childhood Revisited

For years, Sanju Samson openly admitted that MS Dhoni was his childhood hero. Now, in IPL 2026, the Chennai Super Kings batter says he is living a dream he never even imagined possible - sharing a dressing room with the man whose posters once filled his childhood.

Speaking on the latest Super Kings podcast, Samson revealed how his admiration for Dhoni began when he was still in school, watching a young long-haired wicketkeeper explode onto the international scene.

Sanju Samson starstruck by long-haired MS Dhoni

Samson said he still remembers watching Dhoni during the early days of his India career, before he became one of the biggest stars in world cricket.

"I was in 4th or 5th standard, very small then. I remember seeing this guy with long hair walking out to bat for India," Samson recalled.

He spoke about how Dhoni initially struggled before suddenly changing Indian cricket with his fearless batting.

"He would get out in a couple of games and then suddenly score a hundred against Pakistan. Then he scored 183 against Sri Lanka in Jaipur. After that he just kept scoring big runs."

That phase, according to Samson, completely changed him as a young cricket fan.

"From that moment, I became a huge fan of his."

Sanju Samson reflects on childhood awe

Samson then revealed perhaps the most relatable detail from his childhood fandom.

At the peak of Dhoni's rise, the India captain appeared in advertisements everywhere - especially the iconic Boost campaigns that dominated Indian television in the mid-2000s.

Samson admitted he would carefully cut out Dhoni's image from the Boost bottles and preserve them in his diary.

"He was everywhere after that - posters, media, advertisements. He used to feature in Boost ads."

"At home, we used to drink Boost and there was a sticker on the bottle. I remember cutting Mahi bhai's face out from that sticker and sticking it on my diary," Samson said.

"More than a dream" for Samson at CSK with MS Dhoni

Now playing for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026, Samson said the surreal part is no longer watching Dhoni from afar, but actually spending everyday life with him.

The wicketkeeper-batter explained that he regularly chats with Dhoni, visits his room, asks him questions and receives advice from the former India captain.

"From that moment to where I am now, what more can I say?" Samson said.

"I sit with him, talk with him, play games with him, go to his room and ask him anything I want. He advises me as well."

Samson added that the experience goes beyond even his childhood imagination.

"It's been a dream, actually more than a dream. I think any kid would dream about this and I feel very fortunate to be here."

Sanju Samson thriving at CSK in IPL 2026

The emotional story comes during a strong IPL 2026 campaign for Samson, who has been one of CSK's standout performers this season.

The right-hander has scored 402 runs in 10 matches so far and has emerged as one of Chennai's most consistent batters during their playoff push.

For Samson, though, the bigger story seems personal - going from carrying Dhoni stickers in a school diary to now sharing a dressing room with the CSK legend himself.