‘Love you darling’: Hardik Pandya’s reaction to MS Dhoni steals the show

There are increasing signs that MS Dhoni could yet marque his instrumentality successful IPL 2026, contempt earlier reports suggesting a longer absence. The seasoned wicketkeeper-batter, who is yet to diagnostic this season, was precocious seen padded up during a Chennai Super Kings grooming session, arsenic shared connected the franchise’s societal media. On May 1, up of CSK’s location clash against Mumbai Indians, Dhoni was spotted astatine the Chepauk Stadium successful afloat grooming gear, wherever helium reunited with erstwhile India teammate and existent MI skipper

Hardik Pandya

. The gathering turned into a lukewarm moment, with the 2 sharing a hug during MI’s signifier session.

Pandya was besides seen handing his bat to Dhoni, seemingly asking for feedback, with the CSK fable obliging and engaging successful a little speech earlier Pandya returned to his teammates.

In different clip shared by CSK, Pandya could beryllium heard reacting to 1 of Dhoni’s shots successful the nets, saying, “Mahi bhai emotion you darling bye bye,” portion watching from behind.

Dhoni, who was ruled retired of the opening signifier of the tourney owed to a calf strain, has been regularly attending grooming sessions, hinting that his comeback whitethorn not beryllium acold away. Both CSK and MI find themselves successful a tricky presumption this season. Mumbai Indians, beryllium 2nd from bottommost aft 8 matches, portion CSK are somewhat amended disconnected successful sixth spot but arsenic nether pressure.

With respective teams pulling up successful the standings, some sides are moving retired of country for error. Fitness concerns proceed to linger implicit cardinal figures, with Dhoni and

Rohit Sharma

some recovering from injuries. Meanwhile, enactment transitions nether

Ruturaj Gaikwad

and Hardik Pandya person yet to afloat settle, with some teams inactive searching for consistency. Frequent changes successful playing combinations person not helped either side. Mumbai person already utilized 22 players this season, portion CSK person rotated 19, reflecting uncertainty astir their champion XIs. Their usage of the Impact Player regularisation has besides raised questions, with tactical decisions often proving hard to understand. As the iconic CSK-MI rivalry prepares for different chapter, Dhoni’s imaginable instrumentality could adhd a much-needed spark to some the contention and CSK’s campaign.