Mumbai Indians (MI) fast bowler Deepak Chahar shared a heartwarming reunion with former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni during a practice session. Deepak Chahar touched Dhoni’s feet at the Wankhede Stadium, which shows their strong bond despite representing rival teams in the marquee tournament.
Mumbai Indians will host the Chennai Super Kings in the El Clásico clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Both teams have had similar campaigns so far, sitting in seventh and eighth positions, with two wins and four defeats each. The upcoming match will be their 40th meeting in Indian Premier League history.
Deepak Chahar Touches MS Dhoni’s Feet During Heartwarming Reunion
Deepak Chahar often credits MS Dhoni for guiding his career during their time together at CSK. During a recent practice session, the Mumbai Indians pacer approached his mentor for a casual conversation, but Dhoni quickly noticed the nearby social media team recording them.
Dhoni showed his trademark humor by pointing toward the camera and jokingly asking the Mumbai Indians cameraman to move away. The wicketkeeper batter said that recording them would not allow a genuine private conversation.
“Tum aaya, saath mein camera leke aaya… bhagao isko (You came along with a camera… get him out of here.),” Dhoni quipped.
“Arey yaar bhaiya, jao aap (Come on, brother, please go.),” Chahar playfully responded to the cameraman.
“Haan, warna baat nahi kar paenge (Yes, otherwise we won’t be able to talk.),” Dhoni added with a bright smile.
Cameraman be like… chalo theek hai 🫠 pic.twitter.com/KqzXsYc9h3
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 22, 2026
CSK Need MS Dhoni’s Return; Ruturaj Gaikwad Struggles With Batting Form
Chennai Super Kings desperately need MS Dhoni back on the field. He missed the first six matches due to a pre-season calf injury. In the 2025 season, Dhoni averaged 24.50 and had a strike rate of 135.17 across 14 matches.
Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has struggled with leadership responsibilities. He has scored 82 runs at an average of 13.66 and a strike rate of 112.32 and has not crossed 30 runs in six innings during IPL 2026.
Gaikwad also has a poor captaincy record since taking over before the 2024 season. He has won only 10 matches in 25 games as CSK captain, putting pressure on the team ahead of this crucial match.
Deepak Chahar’s Performances in IPL 2026 for Mumbai Indians
Deepak Chahar had a mixed IPL 2026 season with the Mumbai Indians, where he mainly operated as a powerplay bowler. He achieved a notable milestone by taking 16 wickets in the first over across IPL history. However, his performances this season were inconsistent.
Chahar conceded 22 runs in the first over without taking a wicket against the Rajasthan Royals (RR). He again had a tough outing against Punjab Kings (PBKS), giving away 21 runs in the first over at the Wankhede Stadium. These expensive spells impacted his overall effectiveness.
He finished with figures of 1/20 in three overs against Delhi Capitals (DC). However, repeated costly overs hurt the team’s balance, and he was eventually dropped from the playing XI due to poor performances.
