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For the first time in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) season, MS Dhoni was with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team on the ground, not to play a match, but for a ‘lap of honor’ in front of the home crowd, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, after the match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The ‘lap of honor’ of MS Dhoni has increased speculations about his retirement from T20 by some margins. For the entire CSK fan base, and for the cricket fraternity as well, the moment was a bit emotional. However, former Team India and CSK spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, spotted something unusual.
MS Dhoni did a lap of honor after the CSK vs SRH match
During an online discussion, after the CSK vs SRH match on May 18, R Ashwin claimed that Dhoni did not look happy enough during the lap, which was not expected for the former teammate of the legendary keeper-batter.
During the conversation, Ashwin said that MS Dhoni loves the Chennai Super Kings very much. But last night, when MS was doing the lap of honor, Ashwin missed the love and happiness. Whenever Dhoni greeted the crowd, he looked much happier, which Ashwin missed last night at Chepauk.
I didn’t see that love: R Ashwin
“MS loves CSK a lot. Yesterday, when he was going for the lap (of honor), I didn’t see that love. I just didn’t feel that happiness. Earlier, every time he went around, he went with much happiness. But yesterday felt different, I don’t know why,” Ravichandran Ashwin mentioned.
🚨 Ashwin said Dhoni didn’t look happy 🎙️
“MS loves CSK a lot. Yesterday, when he was going for the lap (of honor), I didn’t see that love. I just didn’t feel that happiness. Earlier, every time he goes around, he goes with much happiness. But y’day felt different, Idk why” pic.twitter.com/aSTecZ54dv
— Abhinav MSDian™ (@Abhinav_hariom) May 19, 2026
MS Dhoni, 44, has been recovering from an injury. And due to the injury, he has not played a single match so far in IPL 2026. CSK has yet to play their last match in the ongoing season, which will be an away game for them against the Gujarat Titans. Will the former skipper, under whose leadership Chennai Super Kings won 5 league titles, play the match against the Titans? There is no clear answer.
CSK head coach on MS Dhoni’s retirement
Because of the lap of honour, fans are asking the question, ‘Does MS Dhoni decide to take retirement?” Again, as before, there is no clear indication on this. Even though there are no words from the keeper’s mouth, as well.
However, after the match, the head coach of the Chennai Super Kings, Stephen Fleming, faced a question regarding Dhoni’s retirement. The head coach said that they are working on it.
“I’d say it’s a choice for the management. I know there’s been a lot of talk about it, but MS has been around a lot this year, which has been really important for the team, for a lot of young players, and for continuity. So he’s been a big part, he hasn’t played, but he’s still had a big influence on the team,” Stephen Fleming said when he was asked about the retirement of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
“There are a lot of good things we’ve done. We’ve introduced some new players who will hopefully be generation players for CSK. But I know we’re judged on results, that’s fair. So, yeah, it’s the management’s call, not mine,” he added further on the same note.
Read More: R Ashwin defends Ishan Kishan’s viral ‘Whistle Podu’ celebration after beating CSK at Chepauk
