In addition to Chepauk, MS Dhoni, a legend of Team India and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), said he had a unique bond with Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Dhoni mentioned that the 2011 one-day World Cup final was also held in Mumbai and recalled the enthusiastic greeting the squad received following their victory in the 2007 T20 World Cup.
During IPL 2025 the 43-year-old cricketer is a member of the CSK team. His exceptional stumping against Suryakumar Yadav lifted CSK to a four-wicket win against Mumbai Indians (MI) when Yadav scored 29 runs.
The seasoned keeper-batter talked about his favourite stadiums and the happy memories connected to them on The MSD Experience on JioHotstar. The CSK star stated:
“Well, I wouldn’t say I have a second favorite because we get the same kind of reception almost everywhere. Mumbai, I have a soft corner because in 2007, when we won the T20 World Cup, we came back here and got a very warm reception. The 2011 final was also here, and there are a lot of memories, so it has a special place in my heart.
MS Dhoni
“Other than that, even if you’re playing in Bangalore, the crowd is amazing, they’re very loud, and all the noise stays inside the stadium. In Kolkata, big capacity crowd, the same is with Ahmedabad now. So, it becomes very difficult—who will you pick? Because they come with all their heart, they support the teams, they support cricket. Chepauk is special because with the whistle, they are very loud.”
MS Dhoni
In the Chennai Super Kings vs. Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 match at Chepauk, the keeper-batter only faced two balls. When he stepped out to the centre, he received a thunderous reception as usual.
“When it comes to cricket, India is the place to play” – MS Dhoni on love from fans during the IPL
MS Dhoni declared his retirement from international competition the next year after playing for India for the final time in 2019. But even though he only participated in the IPL, his fame hasn’t decreased. As evidenced by the level of adoration he receives from fans throughout the IPL, his legend just seems to get bigger every year. In response to all of the praise that he receives, Dhoni stated:
“I have always said, it’s a big ‘thank you’ from the fans’ side. That’s what I believe. Whatever last few years I’m in and I will be playing, it’s a way of them saying, ‘Thank you very much for whatever you have done,’ and it’s amazing. Especially when you play a sport, what you want is the appreciation of the fans. And when it comes to cricket, India is the place to play.
MS Dhoni
“Being part of the Indian cricket team is one of the biggest things. I’m not playing international cricket, so IPL is the next best thing that can happen.”
MS Dhoni
The next time we see Dhoni in action is on Friday, March 28, when the Chennai Super Kings play the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium.
