CSK wicket-keeper batter Urvil Patel has claimed that Indian veteran MS Dhoni is not just a cricketer but is also an emotion for his fans, who are not just cricket fanatics but also players. This was revealed by the player after an image featuring him and his idol went viral on social media.
The Gujarat batter was first brought into the CSK team in 2025, a mid-season signing, and played just three games that season. Though he has never scored a century or a half-century in these three games, he has given CSK the starts they were waiting for throughout the competition.
Urvil was picked after some stellar performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season of 2025, where he scored the fastest hundred ever by an Indian, and then backed it with a hundred in the 2026 edition of the SMAT as well.
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Urvil Patel’s fanboy post featuring CSK veteran MS Dhoni
One of Urvil Patel’s images with veteran cricketer MS Dhoni went viral, and he revealed that this was an iconic moment for him that he would remember for his lifetime. He also claimed that this moment could only be felt, and it holds countless memories.
In an X post he shared, “‘7’ is not just a number people admire… It’s something they feel deep within, something they respect without words, something they love beyond reasons.”
“It holds years of memories, silent emotions, and countless dreams in every heart that has ever believed in it. Grateful to God for blessing me with this moment… because out of all those hearts, all those dreams, today I got to stand right in front of mine.”
He continued, “This isn’t just a picture… It’s a feeling that will stay with me forever, always. Some moments can’t be explained; they can only be felt. And this…is one feeling I’ll carry with me forever.”
MS DHONI, AN EMOTION 💛
Urvil Patel about the iconic picture with Dhoni on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/Zu4zcq7F4f
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 22, 2026
Will Urvil Patel feature in the CSK XI after Sanju Samson’s transfer?
The right-handed wicket-keeper batter Urvil Patel has been playing for Chennai Super Kings since the last season. His main utilization was anticipated to be made this season, as he was considered one of the premier opening options.
However, now the CSK franchise have included Sanju Samson as part of a completed trade with the Rajasthan Royals. Urvil would no longer be picked as an opener; instead, Ayush Mhatre and Sanju Samson might be picked as the two openers.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, the skipper, could be slotted just after them, followed by the likes of Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, and Jamie Overton. Hence, it seems evident that Urvil Patel could be used as an Impact player alongside Sarfaraz Khan.
Urvil Patel’s T20 stats ahead of IPL 2026
The 27-year-old Urvil Patel has represented Baroda and Gujarat in the domestic structure. The batter has featured in over 57 games and has amassed 1457 runs in the shortest format of the game; especially his performance in the last two SMATs has been outstanding.
He is a clean striker of the white ball and has batted with a strike rate of nearly 180 in the T20 format. Though he averages just past 26, he has scored three centuries and four half-centuries in the format.
Playing the IPL last season for the CSK franchise, he went on to score 68 runs in 3 matches. He batted with a whopping strike rate of 212.50. He will be expected to take it to the next level this time, though he might be shifted to a new role, lower down the order.
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