A special moment unfolded at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 5, as MS Dhoni’s parents, Pan Singh and Devaki Devi, made a rare appearance to watch an Indian Premier League match live. Accompanied by their granddaughter Ziva and Dhoni’s wife Sakshi, the family was seen cheering for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during their face-off with Delhi Capitals (DC).
First Ever Match Attended by Dhoni’s Parents
Interestingly, this marked the first time ever that Dhoni’s parents attended a CSK home match since his debut with the franchise in 2008. Their presence sparked emotional reactions from fans, while also igniting a fresh round of speculation about the legendary cricketer’s potential retirement from the IPL.
Earlier in the week, concerns had emerged over CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad’s fitness after he took a blow to his elbow during a match against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. This had led to whispers that Dhoni might return as captain for the game against Delhi. However, those rumors were put to rest when Gaikwad walked out for the toss, confirming his recovery by saying, “The elbow’s fine, I’m ready to go.”
Delhi Capitals Set Challenging Target
On the field, Delhi Capitals set a competitive total of 183/6, powered by KL Rahul’s impressive 77-run knock. The five-time champions CSK, who had earlier defeated Mumbai Indians in their opener but lost badly to Royal Challengers Bangalore, looked to bounce back in front of their home crowd.
Dhoni’s role in the team has continued to generate conversation. The 43-year-old has been batting lower down the order, even coming in at No. 9 against RCB — a move that didn’t sit well with many fans. Addressing this, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming explained that Dhoni now manages his workload carefully due to age-related fitness concerns. “He assesses how much he can contribute with the bat based on how his body feels on the day,” Fleming said.
Currently, CSK have won just one of their three matches and sit near the bottom of the points table, while Delhi remain unbeaten after two games.
