MS Dhoni Played A Game Of Pickleball With Rishabh Pant On A Floating Court In Dubai After IPL 2024 Auction

Chennai Super Kings are receiving a lot of praise for making some interesting buys at the IPL 2024 Auction in Dubai. The IPL 2023 champions entered the auction table with six spots up for grabs and ticked almost every box by the end of it.

The CSK team management once again showcased their astuteness and got almost every player they went after and returned the most satisfied franchise. Chennai Super Kings IPL 2024 Squad: Full List of CSK Players bought

Where is MS Dhoni?

CSK captain MS Dhoni wasn't present at the auction venue but the former India cricketer was in Dubai. A video of Dhoni playing a game of pickleball in Dubai with his former India teammate Rishabh Pant is doing the rounds on X, formerly Twitter.

In the video - which was recorded by a fan - the senior Jharkhand cricketer - who will be leading the Yellow Brigade in the IPL 2024 season - could be seen playing a game of pickleball on a floating glass-covered court.

What is pickleball and its rules?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is typically played on a rectangular court with a net across the middle, similar to a tennis court but smaller in size. The game can be played both indoors and outdoors.

The equipment used in pickleball includes a perforated plastic ball (similar to a wiffle ball), solid paddles, and a low net. The rules of pickleball are similar to other racket sports, with some unique elements. The game is usually played as doubles, but singles play is also common.

Pant - who was spotted at the IPL Auction table with Delhi Capitals team management - later interacted with the media persons. The wicketkeeper-batter from Delhi, who was working with the Delhi Capitals management over the last three days in Dubai, said he was surprised to see the love fans showered on him during the difficult period as he thought that fans always hate cricketers.

CSK purchases at IPL 2024 Auction

CSK started their buying with dashing New Zealand batter Rachin Ravindra with a bid of Rs 1.8 crore. The Yellow Brigade then went on to snap up Indian fast-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur for a price of Rs 4 crore. Chennai team management went on to break the bank for another Kiwi in Daryl Mitchell, whom they purchased for Rs 14 crore.

CSK signed Sameer Rizvi, the 20-year-old Uttar Pradesh swashbuckler, for a massive bid of Rs 8.4 crore. They even bought Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman and uncapped Indian wicketkeeper Avinash Rao Aravelly.

While speaking on JioCinema after getting picked up by CSK, Rizvi expressed his elation at the opportunity of sharing the dressing room with Dhoni, and said, "That's a completely different feeling because he has always been my idol. I am very excited, yet nervous about the prospect of meeting him. I have never seen him in front of my eyes."