"Goosebumps Moment!" – R Ashwin Describes Chepauk’s Roar as MS Dhoni Walks Out to Bat

Chepauk stadium was incredibly lively. For the first time, CSK's Ravichandran Ashwin witnessed the pure chaos that unfolded when MS Dhoni stepped out to bat during the IPL 2025 showdown against Mumbai Indians (MI) on March 23. The iconic off-spinner was visibly astonished portraying the moment as a grand celebration the instant the crowd's cherished legend arrived at the crease.

Ashwin was no stranger to the roar of the stadium, but being on the inside of the CSK dugout and experiencing this level of passion was a whole new ball game. He even admitted that it felt almost surreal. The ovation for Dhoni was so loud that for a moment, Ashwin said, the CSK players completely forgot about the intense match situation.

Later, on his YouTube channel, Ashwin vividly described the atmosphere. He admitted that the team was so absorbed in the sheer spectacle of Dhoni’s entrance that they briefly lost sight of the fact that the game was on a knife’s edge. It took them a moment, he explained to regroup and fully re-engage in the action.

 "When MS Dhoni came out to bat in Chennai, there was so much noise and chaos that we forgot the situation of the game altogether. MS Dhoni has earned the love. It was for the first time I was seeing that reception from the CSK dressing room, I always saw it from the outside," Ashwin said on his Youtube channel.

Dhoni's Unmatched Fan Following in Chennai

The CSK icon MS Dhoni commands an enormous fan following no matter where he plays in India. However, the admiration and reception he gets in Chennai have always been on another level, almost surreal. For Ravichandran Ashwin, returning to CSK this season meant witnessing this spectacle firsthand.

Ashwin's IPL journey started with the Chennai Super Kings, where he was a crucial player from 2009 to 2015. After being let go by CSK, he gained significant experience with other franchises like the Rising Pune Supergiants, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals before ultimately finding his way back to his original team. Continuing his narration in the same video, Ashwin further illustrated how the entire stadium's focus was entirely locked onto MS Dhoni, even with the match hanging delicately in the balance.

"I was padded up, I was the next batter. I went inside and asked Ruturaj (Gaikwad) how the wicket was and all that was because we still needed 4 runs, but everyone forgot that a match was on the line," Ashwin added.

In case an additional wicket fell, Ashwin was the next to bat. But MS Dhoni, the ever-cool finisher, did a fine job in the second-last over by off-spinner Naman Dhir. The last over was next, and Rachin Ravindra didn't waste any time, hitting the very first ball for a boundary to win the match for his side.

Rachin Ravindra Seals the Win in Style

Ravindra's outstanding unbeaten knock of 65 runs from just 45 balls guided his side home, while Dhoni was left not out on 0 at the other end. CSK started their IPL 2025 campaign with a great win over MI. The home side appeared to be sailing towards a comfortable win, but left-arm wrist-spinner Vignesh Puthur threw a twist into the game by turning it into a nail-biting finish. Eventually, Rachin Ravindra remained calm, finishing it out and closing the match with a six.

Earlier in the innings, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad played a blistering knock of 53 runs off just 26 balls while batting at No. 3, setting a strong foundation for Chennai’s campaign. CSK will next take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 28 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.